"A concocted video of President Bush pushing seniors in wheelchairs over a cliff is beyond offensive," Mr. Racicot said. "The D.N.C.'s activities reflect desperation and serve as further proof they are a party unable or unwilling to offer positive solutions to important problems."

Consider Dahlia Abdulrahim and Intidhar Abdulrahim, two young women I met at an English-language used-book shop in Baghdad. Dahlia reads romance novels, while Intidhar favors Thomas Hardy. So will they be cheering the American troops rolling through Baghdad?

"I will throw stones at them," Dahlia said.

"Maybe I will throw knives," Intidhar said brightly.