[Peace-discuss] Iraqis want the US forces out!

[Morton K. Brussel]

     An important poll has been conducted in Iraq. Its results are to  
be seen at

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/091007J.shtml

An extract from that report, the whole of which should be read:

Direct ratings of the surge itself are particularly negative. At  
best, only 18 percent of Iraqis say it has improved security in surge  
areas; at worst, just six percent say it's improved the pace of  
economic development. Indeed, as noted, the surge broadly is seen to  
have done more harm than good, with 65 to 70 percent saying it's  
worsened rather than improved security in surge areas, security in  
other areas, conditions for political dialogue, the ability of the  
Iraqi government to do its work, the pace of reconstruction and the  
pace of economic development.

     Every respondent in Baghdad, and also in Anbar (where George W.  
Bush paid a surprise visit to a sprawling U.S. base last week), says  
the surge has made security worse now than it was six months ago  
(anti-U.S. sentiment in these areas is very high, and likely a factor  
in these direct assessments). Views in the rest of the country are  
hardly positive: Outside Baghdad and Anbar, still just 26 percent say  
the surge has improved security.

     A broader question, not specifically linked to the surge, has an  
equally negative result: Just 18 percent of Iraqis say the presence  
of U.S. forces is making security better in their country overall,  
about the same as in March (21 percent). Instead 72 percent say the  
U.S. presence is making Iraq's security worse.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/private/peace-discuss/attachments/20070910/95a90d63/attachment.htm