Iraqi people speak out

[Stoner]

Iraqi survey.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1530762.ece

Here are some interesting highlights. The libs will find this hard to believe because they're still drinking the drive-by media kool-aid. All the rest of us already knew this.

- Most Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein.

- Only 27% of Iraqis think there is a civil war in Iraq. 61% do not feel there is a civil war.

- By a majority of two to one, Iraqis believe military operations now under way will disarm all militias.

Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, said the findings pointed to progress. “There is no widespread violence in the four southern provinces and the fact that the picture is more complex than the stereotype usually portrayed is reflected in today’s poll,” she said.

Not exactly how the drive-by media portrays it, huh? In the media's defense, I'm sure the only reason they don't bring you the truth on a daily basis is it gets in the way of their agenda.

[Elrathin]

Yep that survey of 5000 out of MILLIONS sure is proof, thanks Stoner. I'll remember that the next Bush survey I see that has his ratings in the toilet.

[BoogyMan]

Yep that survey of 5000 out of MILLIONS sure is proof, thanks Stoner. I'll remember that the next Bush survey I see that has his ratings in the toilet.


Hi El, was this a scientifically designed poll? That would give us a good indication of the validity of the results.

[AlonzoMourning23]

I'd like to see the questions and how they're worded. Some problems have been run differently, such as the british run ones, and the occupying soldiers refrained from the more heavy handed tactics that the u.s. used, and they achieved better results.

[AlonzoMourning23]

I found a breakdown, but still not the questions:

The poll highlights the impact the sectarian violence has had. Some 26% of Iraqis - 15% of Sunnis and 34% of Shi’ites - have suffered the murder of a family member. Kidnapping has also played a terrifying role: 14% have had a relative, friend or colleague abducted, rising to 33% in Baghdad.

Yet 49% of those questioned preferred life under Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, to living under Saddam. Only 26% said things had been better in Saddam’s era, while 16% said the two leaders were as bad as each other and the rest did not know or refused to answer.

Not surprisingly, the divisions in Iraqi society were reflected in statistics — Sunnis were more likely to back the previous Ba’athist regime (51%) while the Shi’ites (66%) preferred the Maliki government.

Maliki, who derives a significant element of his support from Moqtada al-Sadr, the hardline Shi’ite militant, and his Mahdi army, has begun trying to overcome criticism that his government favours the Shi’ites, going out of his way to be seen with Sunni tribal leaders. He is also under pressure from the US to include more Sunnis in an expected government reshuffle.

The poll suggests a significant increase in support for Maliki. A survey conducted by ORB in September last year found that only 29% of Iraqis had a favourable opinion of the prime minister.

Another surprise was that only 27% believed they were caught up in a civil war. Again, that number divided along religious lines, with 41% of Sunnis believing Iraq was in a civil war, compared with only 15% of Shi’ites. ....

One question showed the sharp divide in attitudes towards the continued presence of foreign troops in Iraq. Some 53% of Iraqis nationwide agree that the security situation will improve in the weeks after a withdrawal by international forces, while only 26% think it will get worse.



http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1530526.ece