Do The Iraqis Think They're Better Off Now?

[soundforbjt]

But while they acknowledge benefits from dumping Saddam a year ago, Iraqis no longer see the presence of the American-led military as a plus. Asked whether they view the U.S.-led coalition as "liberators" or "occupiers," 71% of all respondents say "occupiers."

That figure reaches 81% if the separatist, pro-U.S. Kurdish minority in northern Iraq is not included. The negative characterization is just as high among the Shiite Muslims who were oppressed for decades by Saddam as it is among the Sunni Muslims who embraced him.


Iraqis interviewed in Baghdad say ordinary people have lost patience with the U.S. effort to crush the insurgency and rebuild Iraq.

"I would shoot at the Americans right now if I had the chance," says Abbas Kadhum Muia, 24, who owns a bicycle shop in Sadr City, a Shiite slum of 2 million people in Baghdad that was strongly anti-Saddam and once friendly to the Americans. "At the beginning ... there were no problems, but gradually they started to show disrespect (and) encroach on our rights, arresting people."

Sabah Yeldo, a Christian who owns a liquor store across town, says American failures have left the capital with higher crime and less-reliable services, including electricity. That is "making everybody look back and seriously consider having Saddam back again instead of the Americans."

In the multiethnic Baghdad area, where a Gallup Poll last summer of 1,178 residents permits a valid comparison, only 13% of the people now say the invasion of Iraq was morally justifiable. In the 2003 poll, more than twice that number saw it as the right thing to do.

Americans regard their men and women in uniform as liberators who are trying to help Iraq. But the Iraqis now see them as a threat and focus their anger on them.

"When they pass by on the street, we are curious, so we go out to look and they immediately point their gun at you," says Muia, the bicycle shop owner.

Except for the Kurds, such feelings are widely held. For example:

Two-thirds say soldiers in the U.S.-led coalition make no attempt to keep ordinary Iraqis from being killed or wounded during exchanges of gunfire.

58% say the soldiers conduct themselves badly or very badly.

60% say the troops show disrespect for Iraqi people in searches of their homes, and 42% say U.S. forces have shown disrespect toward mosques.

46% say the soldiers show a lack of respect for Iraqi women.

Only 11% of Iraqis say coalition forces are trying hard to restore basic services such as electricity and clean drinking water.

But the hostility reflected in the poll is a message that the troops understand, says Monks, the Marine lance corporal. "They don't want us here," he says. "They want to rebuild their own country. We're trying to Americanize their life. You can't buy love."

Link

 

[conjur]

Link?

 

[chess9]

Well, I have it on good authority that all Iraqis love us.

So, there. Pffffftttt!

Polls don't tell us anything. They are only tools for liberal fools.

-Robert

 

[Infohawk]

Polls generally are useful. They are based on math and therefore on reason. It's possible this particular study is flawed, but then you should attack the study's methodology and not polls generally.

Of course, we don't know anything about this study since no link was posted.

 

[chess9]

Infohawk:

You have a blown fuse in your sarcasm meter.

-Robert

 

[Czar]

think this is the poll
http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/iraq_poll/flash.htm

 

[LordMagnusKain]

Polls generally are useful. They are based on math and therefore on reason.

most statistics are madup on the spot: 74% of all people know that.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: chess9
Infohawk:

You have a blown fuse in your sarcasm meter.

-Robert

Indeed.

All is not lost because there seems to be people who actually believe the kinds of things you were parodying! Hopefully they'll read my post.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain

Polls generally are useful. They are based on math and therefore on reason.

most statistics are madup on the spot: 74% of all people know that.

83% of people would disagree.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain

Polls generally are useful. They are based on math and therefore on reason.

most statistics are madup on the spot: 74% of all people know that.

94.6% of all people says that christian fundamentalists such as yourself are no more trustworthy than OBL and his crew.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain

Polls generally are useful. They are based on math and therefore on reason.

most statistics are madup on the spot: 74% of all people know that.

83% of people would disagree.

19% of people eat sushi.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Lonyo

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain

Polls generally are useful. They are based on math and therefore on reason.

most statistics are madup on the spot: 74% of all people know that.

83% of people would disagree.

19% of people eat sushi.

77% of them never eat it again after becoming violently ill.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: soundforbjt

But while they acknowledge benefits from dumping Saddam a year ago, Iraqis no longer see the presence of the American-led military as a plus. Asked whether they view the U.S.-led coalition as "liberators" or "occupiers," 71% of all respondents say "occupiers."

That figure reaches 81% if the separatist, pro-U.S. Kurdish minority in northern Iraq is not included. The negative characterization is just as high among the Shiite Muslims who were oppressed for decades by Saddam as it is among the Sunni Muslims who embraced him.


Iraqis interviewed in Baghdad say ordinary people have lost patience with the U.S. effort to crush the insurgency and rebuild Iraq.

"I would shoot at the Americans right now if I had the chance," says Abbas Kadhum Muia, 24, who owns a bicycle shop in Sadr City, a Shiite slum of 2 million people in Baghdad that was strongly anti-Saddam and once friendly to the Americans. "At the beginning ... there were no problems, but gradually they started to show disrespect (and) encroach on our rights, arresting people."

Sabah Yeldo, a Christian who owns a liquor store across town, says American failures have left the capital with higher crime and less-reliable services, including electricity. That is "making everybody look back and seriously consider having Saddam back again instead of the Americans."

In the multiethnic Baghdad area, where a Gallup Poll last summer of 1,178 residents permits a valid comparison, only 13% of the people now say the invasion of Iraq was morally justifiable. In the 2003 poll, more than twice that number saw it as the right thing to do.

Americans regard their men and women in uniform as liberators who are trying to help Iraq. But the Iraqis now see them as a threat and focus their anger on them.

"When they pass by on the street, we are curious, so we go out to look and they immediately point their gun at you," says Muia, the bicycle shop owner.

Except for the Kurds, such feelings are widely held. For example:

Two-thirds say soldiers in the U.S.-led coalition make no attempt to keep ordinary Iraqis from being killed or wounded during exchanges of gunfire.

58% say the soldiers conduct themselves badly or very badly.

60% say the troops show disrespect for Iraqi people in searches of their homes, and 42% say U.S. forces have shown disrespect toward mosques.

46% say the soldiers show a lack of respect for Iraqi women.

Only 11% of Iraqis say coalition forces are trying hard to restore basic services such as electricity and clean drinking water.

But the hostility reflected in the poll is a message that the troops understand, says Monks, the Marine lance corporal. "They don't want us here," he says. "They want to rebuild their own country. We're trying to Americanize their life. You can't buy love."

Link

So much for their hearts and minds . . .

 

[Ozoned]

Well, they are certainly better off in their ability to participate in polls.:thumbsup: