Brandon9000 wrote:
This is interesting, but it seems to deal mostly with the occupation. It would have been interesting if they had been asked if they wish the US had not deposed Hussein.
Back in March there was a big
survey in Iraq, done by a consortium of international news organisations, that yielded
a big thread on this board.
Of course, that was before a large number of things making life in Iraq seem even harder (Abu G., Fallujah, Najaf).
Back then, the survey found that 48 percent of Iraqis thought the invasion had been right, and 39% that it was wrong. However, only 42 percent thought the invasion "liberated" Iraq, while 41 percent said it "humiliated" the country. I think those two questions pretty much cover yours, Brandon.
Furthermore, 51 percent back then already opposed the presence of coalition forces; 39 percent supported it. Those numbers were flattered still by the hugely positive attitide of the Kurds. Among Arab Iraqis (Sunnis and Shi'ites), only 33 percent said the war had liberated the country, 48% said it had humiliated it. More Arab Iraqis also thought the invasion was wrong than right. 66% of all Iraqis had "not very much" confidence or "none at all" in the US and UK forces, 62% had not very much or none at all in the CPA. A huge majority did trust Iraq's own religious leaders, on the other hand.
Then there was
another poll in May, commissioned by the CPA itself (news of which I posted
in the same thread). It found that only 2 per cent of the Iraqis polled saw the coalition troops as liberators, while 92 per cent said they were occupiers.
(This was right alongside the finding that only 3 per cent expressed support for Saddam, by the way. The necessity expressed by some here, that if Iraqis hated Saddam they must thus be glad with the Americans coming in, does not seem to be sensed by Iraqis themselves.)
Change in public opinion was fast, which suggests the numbers must be even worse now: while back in January only 28% wanted the American troops to leave "immediately", that was up to 55% in May. Only 10% trusted the US/UK troops, and only 11% the CPA (this in a CPA-commissioned poll!). On the other hand, a full 67% said they supported Sadr, back then.
I've seen news of another poll still, with even worse results for the American perspective of Iraq being "liberated", but I didn't post it -- its on a fat pile of stuff I still sometime want to bring to A2K if I have time ...