Iraq’s modern history can be divided into two phases: tyranny with security and freedom with chaos. Iraqis moved from the first to the second phase in the early 2000s, but soon began to go from the second back to the first. Over the years, they had warmly welcomed generals after their military coups, seeing in them a path to safety and salvation from chaos: They cheered for the coup leaders in 1958, the year of the July 14 Revolution that resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy. Saddam Hussein made his move in July 1979, pressuring President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr to leave office in light of numerous assassinations of Baath Party members. Iraqis likewise rejoiced with the fall of Hussein's dictatorship in 2003, but their joy was short-lived as acts of terror and other killings and murders took hold of their everyday lives. That phase is ongoing amid multifaceted developments whose outcomes are difficult to predict.

In the name of security, in late December Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki launched a campaign in Anbar against an al-Qaeda infiltration of the provinces major cities, flexing his muscles and trying to affirm that he can establish security in all of Iraq. He said that he would put an end to the situation within a week. On Jan. 4, celebrating the second anniversary of Iraqi Day, commemorating the withdrawal of the US troops from the country, Maliki tried to position himself as a strong military figure, calling on Iraqis to support his actions to eliminate terrorism in the country once and for all.

Large crowds responded with slogans and exhortations wishing victory for the army. Many attempted to imitate Egyptians in their support for the army when it launched its coup against the Muslim Brotherhood, shouting such slogans as “The army is the fortress of the country.” Facebook pages were rife with salutations for the army on Jan. 6, Armed Forces Day. Moreover, since the army's intervention in Anbar, many have been talking about the need for an “Iraqi Sisi” to take control and bring order to chaos.

Many southern cities have been holding celebratory sendoffs for young soldiers, who are viewed as engaging in jihad as well as a mission for the nation in Anbar. On Jan. 4, during one such celebration in the city of Amarah, in Maysan province, Al-Monitor witnessed hundreds of civilians shooting into the air, cheering and honking their car horns, bidding farewell to soldiers headed for Anbar.