Will Iraqis Treat the U.S. as Liberators?

March 24 -- In attacking Iraq and aiming to rid the country of President Saddam Hussein, the U.S. government has predicted that the Iraqi people will treat U.S. troops as liberators.

While some Iraqi citizens initially welcomed American troops or surrendered to incoming forces, U.S. soldiers have started to meet resistance from Iraqi citizens.

Over the weekend, at least two ambushes took a heavy toll on U.S. units, who faced fierce fighting in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya.

In one instance, U.S. Marines were approached by an Iraqi vehicle waving a white flag of surrender, military officials told ABCNEWS affiliate reporter Keith Garvin of WTVD. But individuals inside the vehicle then opened fire, and a mortar attack apparently destroyed one of the Marines' vehicles.

Iraqi television showed footage of what was said to be dead and captive U.S. soldiers who were believed captured near Nasiriya.

"What we expected was sympathy. What we're getting is a very well-organized group of thugs," says ABCNEWS military analyst Tony Cordesman.

A Divided People

Experts say this reception is not surprising given the history of Iraq and the power struggles within the country.

About two-thirds of Iraqis are Shiite Muslims, who have been repressed by Saddam Hussein's ruling Baath party, and about one-third are Sunni Muslims, who actually maintain the powerbase in the country.

But despite the power disparity, many Shi'ites are firmly indoctrinated into the system, having fought for Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq War. Further, younger Shi'ites, which are about 60 percent of the population, have never known any other ruler than Saddam. While many religious Shiites rose up against Saddam in 1991, most didn't.

"What we have seen when we talk about Saddam's men, they are mostly Sunni brought down from the Baghdad area," says Cordesman. "But there are Shi'ites who have been loyal to Saddam, loyal to his regime, who fought during the Iran/Iraq War. They are divided."