The truth about Iraq

[Q Classic]

so true. you can make statistics say anything.

[Spiffor]

Better now

[Spiffor]

What strikes me in the poll is that, despite the many Shiites interrogated, Saudi Arabia is hugely more popular than Iran. Iran is similarly expected to hurt Iraq as the US, and it is definitely not considered as a model for the political rebuilding of Iraq.

Also, there are many more people that don't do prayers than people who pray each Friday The less religious the Iraqis are, the better IMO.

[Drake Tungsten]

The fear was never of increased terrorist recruitment amongst Iraqis. It's pretty obvious that they won't hate America if we do this right; freeing people from a cruel dictator tends to gain you some goodwill amongst the population.

The real question is how the Arab population in countries other than Iraq react. They weren't freed from a totalitarian government like the Iraqis were, so it's far easier for them to focus on the negative aspects of the war and subsequent occupation. I'd be much more interested in seeing a poll covering the reaction of the average Saudi on the street to the Iraq war; they're the ones we have to worry about flying into our buildings.

[Spiffor]

Drake:
Sure, but a goodwilling Iraqi population makes the reconstruction easier.
So far, the poll doesn't really makes it possible to talk about goodwill or not. There are simply too few questions, and they do not cover all aspects of goodwill. The most interesting thing to note is the unpopularity of Iran, and the optimism that things will go better (but I guess things can't go worse than what they are today )

[Drake Tungsten]

but I guess things can't go worse than what they are today

It could definitely be worse.

[Dinner]

Things could get much much orse very fast.

[Spiffor]

Indeed, there could be a civil war. So far it has been avoided, which is really good.

[NeOmega]

Hmm, If I were an Iraqi, I would not speak my mind to anybody if it had a negative view of the U.S. These people sometimes end up disappearing, sometimes entire towns.

"USA! Number 1!"

[Nubclear]

Hmm...While I didn't support the war, I can't say I recall entire towns disappearing after critisizing the US

[rah]

I'd be more impressed if Baghdad was one of the cities surveyed.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
Hmm...While I didn't support the war, I can't say I recall entire towns disappearing after critisizing the US

Do they have that sort of faith in their occupiers, though? After dealing with the Hussein regime, or any other totalitarian one, I'd tend to agree with any favorable responses asked by or about whoever currently carries the guns.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by rah
I'd be more impressed if Baghdad was one of the cities surveyed.

The survey teams were too busy running for cover. "Damn, these people take 'no soliticiting' to a whole new level"

[NeOmega]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
Hmm...While I didn't support the war, I can't say I recall entire towns disappearing after critisizing the US

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20031023/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_all_the_men

Entire villiage arrested for harboring terrorists, including 13 year old boy and 83 year old man....

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
The fear was never of increased terrorist recruitment amongst Iraqis. . . .

Whoah, an intelligent post from a conservative. He actually understands. Wow!