Despite the violence and chaos in their country, Iraqis may be more positive than most Americans about the worth of the war in Iraq, now beginning its fifth year. Even though 26 percent of Iraqis have suffered the murder of a family member, according to a new survey by Britain’s Opinion Research Business, nearly twice as many Iraqis prefer the current government to Saddam Hussein. Of those surveyed, 49 percent "preferred life under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to living under Saddam, while 26 percent said things were better in Saddam’s era," the Australian newspaper reported. But as with most things in Iraq, opinions depended on religious sects, with 66 percent of Shiites surveyed preferring the new government while 51 percent of Sunnis preferred Saddam’s regime.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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23 Comments
I found hope in the fact that the Shiites of Iraq are not exactly in total agreement with the Shiites of Iran.Recently have read that there is a split because of the two main homes for the Shiites, one in Iran and one in Iraq. Sorry I forget the name of the two cities, but when the Shah of Iran was in power the Shiites move the home town to Iraq. But then when the Shah was overthrown they moved it back but many still feel the rightful home is in Iraq.
Just be numbers the Shiite will be in control, I hope that they can stand against Iran’s influence.
I’m not surprised that they prefer the new government – but I am saddened that there are still a large number of Sunni’s that prefer the old.
We discussed battling an ideology yesterday and these stats make it clear that it is a WINNABLE battle, but that we MUST stay the course.
No one wants to hear that – and we all want our troops home safely, but the future of not just the Middle East, but the world, at large, hinges on our success in Iraq.
Once presented with a free country, based upon a Constitutional Republic, such as the one we have, most people will not only ‘come around,’ but they will thrive.
It is heartbreaking that so many have lost a loved one to murder, but it is imperative FOR THAT VERY REASON to continue to put down the insurgency and to implement a Democracy.
And, of course, when I say “democracy,” I don’t really mean that. But that’s the term du jour, so to speak, and one many believe is correct, although it’s not.
But I’ll use it – since we’ve coined it to mean what we have here.
But let me add – thank GAWD we don’t have a Democracy.
Funny that news story was posted. I was just watching C-Span and they were talking about polls taken of Iraqis on the questions reported. There were two separate polls, one of them mentioned here.
The biggest difference of the two polls about whether Iraq was in a Civil War, with the lower numbers given by the British poll.
There were different poll questions between the two, but they were similar in the types of questions asked.
Writerdog, I’ve said before that the attitude of Iranians bothers me. Your point of the difference between the Iranian and the Iraqi Shiites is a valid concern.
I can’t say that my experience with Iranians was truly indicative of the people, as a whole, but after living with them I certainly formed some strong feelings.
I don’t know if you can see this link but it’s to a page from my album.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/tcglen/photo/294928804172731800/1
I lived with so many kid of different nationalities, but the Iranians truly stood out as isolationists and separatists. If that’s any indication of their feelings today, I’m afraid it will not be an easy task to win them over.
“Despite the violence and chaos in their country, Iraqis may be more positive than most Americans about the worth of the war in Iraq. Posted by Phillip Brownlee”
This is an optimism that has been ignored by most media.There are copious examples of improvements in Iraq ( schools, water, electricity, elections, womens rights, infrastructure, etc…) Most all of these are ignored.Media doesn’t get ratings by reporting the 100 planes that land safely, only the one that crashes.
Is it all good? Of course not. But, the whole picture, and our successes, are not being portrayed honestly, and without bias.
Very true, Sanford. The media survives on sensationalism – it’s the nature of the beast.
To air a story that tells how a majority of the Iraqi’s appreciate the new government wont raise eyebrows, or get folk riled up.
The news outlets have to compete with the Springer show – they make an art of bottom feeding.
Who cares if it’s true anymore? What ever happened to journalistic integrity?
Repub~this afternoon on the radio news, one station reported the poll that said the USA is the devil incarnate, and the other station reported the poll that said optimism abounds in Iraq.Go figure.
“The media survives on sensationalism – it’s the nature of the beast.”
GS~ you are so correct. It is the nature of the beast, and………… (my personal hypthesis here) this is why the media is, and always will be Liberal.
Why do I say that? Because … I’ll make this short so as not to produce scroll over territory
Hey, what happened to the short story? That’s too short. I missed it.
That’s sounds about par for the course Sanford.
The problem is, is that the station that reported the USA as the devil incarnate will build on it, by making news specials, opinion polls and specialized talking heads affirming the satanic assignment.
If reporters don’t get new news, changing situations, dynamics, the plane that crashes, .. etc, what is the purpose?
They thrive on things changing. Things being different than they were yesterday or last week. Change, adrenaline, a fast pace is good for the media business.Similar to liberal’s outlook, in that the attention span moves on.
Stability is boring (the 100 planes that land). The media business demands the new and different. Bring it on. Few boundaries, as long as we are pushing an envelope.
Progressivness (aka liberal attitude) is inherent in their line of work.
That’s sounds about par for the course Sanford.
Why you been bustin my chops all night? I don’t deserve it, and leave me alone.
I suppose all of that is true. Kind of wonder if news will be included with video games.
Oh nm, they do that already with cell phones with all its added features…
Eh Sanford, I wasn’t busting your chops.
I was agreeing with you on your assessment of media. :)
Yes, you have been.Sheeps clothing?Some kinda parser bs?Obsession of my birthplace?
Don’t become an ass around here, there are other blog sites for that.
Okay :)
Fixing myself some cafe au lait, need some wake up juice. :)
Its time that we allow Iraq to decide for themselves what they want for a country…
IF THEY want to carve the country up to 3 countries, than let them. IF part of the country wants to merge with Iran, let them…
If the Kurdish (sp) North wants to be independent, than let them…
Isn’t that their right for their country???
I too watch the piece on Cspan, the rep for US and world report said she too have read the UK report. And the only thing she could say was that she did not know much about the UK report. As to where and when it was done, her point was that as far as the U.A.W survey was that it was done over the entire country. And often the answers differed by region. The Kurds by and large were happier with the current situation. While the Sunni were the least satisfied (no shock there as the Shiites are the dominate party) and were the least happy about the U.S. presents.
In the US and world report survey 86% felt that their lives were in danger. Over all there have been some good signs. I found it heartening that some Sunni leaders have been actually fighting a small presents of Al-Qaeda in the area they control. They are seeing the Al-Qaeda terrorists as foreign invaders, of course they also say that is how they see us too. But that is at least a sign that they are wanting to be left alone, leave Iraq to the Iraqis so to speak.
Who gives a rat’s @** if they like it or not. We gave them a new government now use it. If you don’t like it go back to how it was and prove all the liberals right that us going in there was a huge waste of time!!!
** on this matter i wouldnt be mad to be wrong
Its time that we allow Iraq to decide for themselves what they want for a country…
IF THEY want to carve the country up to 3 countries, than let them…
IF part of the country wants to merge with Iran, let them…
If the Kurdish (sp) North wants to be independent, than let them…
Isn’t that their right for their country???
Why do we get to tell them what to do???
Interesting.
I heard of a different poll. It seems Iraqis were recently asked “Would you attack Americans?” 51 % said yes.
This compares to 4 % in 2003.
I took part in yesterdays discussion. Whatever your view is on the Iraq situation you are entitled. Lets not forget that our great democracy embraced slavery, oppression of women, and a disgusting male dominated workplace etc.. We seem to have a naive expectation that the young Iraq democracy will not have these same types of growing pains. That by some miracle they will pick up where we are today. And my question to my fellow bloggers is…who said if we begin to withdraw our troops then Iraq will implode? Do we know this as fact? And considering that it is the “Administration’s” claim doesn’t that almost insure that it is incorrect? They have been so correct on so many things relating to Iraq so far.
Simple mathmatics, Shiites look to make great gains and outnumber the negative voting Sunnis by what, 3 or 4 to 1?