Poll: Most in Baghdad Want Troops to Stay (But...)

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON -- When Gallup set out recently to poll Baghdad residents, the biggest surprise may have been the public's reaction to the questioners: Almost everyone responded to the pollsters' questions, with some pleading for a chance to give their opinions.

"The interviews took more than an hour to do, people were extremely cooperative with open-ended questions," said Richard Burkholder, director of international polling for Gallup. "People went on and on."

But many of those Iraqis still have sharply mixed feelings about the U.S. military presence.

The Gallup poll found that 71 percent of the capital city's residents felt U.S. troops should not leave in the next few months. Just 26 percent felt the troops should leave that soon.

However, a sizable minority felt that circumstances could occur in which attacks against the troops could be justified. Almost one in five, 19 percent, said attacks could be justified, and an additional 17 percent said they could be in some situations.

(more)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-baghdad-poll,0,3149623.story

[LittleApple81]

1. I am not surprised many would be concerned about the US

packing up and leaving... there is no lawful substitute for control of criminal elements in their society.
There is no structure, no services, no nothing.
But I bet they would feel "not so good" about the US staying if they found out that their industrial and business base is being totally looted and "privatized".

[morebunk]

15. What would you say to the pollster for an occupying military?

Do we really think these people are that stupid?

[displacedvermoter]

2. When that idiot Scarborough was talking this poll up on the Daily Show

and making a big deal about the media not trumpeting this poll, I wondered if the people of Baghdad actually knew what polling was, and whether or not they were afraid to speak the truth. Do they know that Gallup is not affiliated with the US Government -- it isn't, is it? Did they dare speak out for fear of being ratted out and risk having their houses raided at night?

Sounds like some folks were honest, but not sure if this is anything like a valid polling instrument.

[Barrett808]

3. How fortunate for the Bush mob

that this should appear during the second week of their new propaganda offensive.

[Minstrel Boy]

4. Hey, Saddam won 100% of the vote, too,

and that result was about as meaningful.

[tokenlib]

5. I'll bet the troops don't want to stay..

Shouldn't we listen to them.

[Barrett808]

6. We sure didn't care the Iraqi people thought before March

Why should we care now?

[Drifter]

7. Could it be they ...

these folks are so used to telling the Occupiers (Whether it is Saddam or US Soldiers) what they want to hear, that polls are fundimentally flawed (ie 50% margin of error).

Iraqis did not want the US there before the war, and since things are much worse (for the average Iraqi), I doubt they want us there now.

Cheers
Drifter

[Barrett808]

12. The Ukranians were pretty happy when the Nazis showed up

For awhile, at least.

[Spazito]

8. I wonder if these street-walking pollsters were accompanied by...

armed guards for safety? I know that would make me tell how I REALLY feel! NOT!

[Beetwasher]

9. Where do I even begin in dissecting this tripe

This "poll" is one of the biggest pieces of bullshit ever. I'd like to know how they determined the sample. I guess they didn't interview people who were shooting at them? Furthermore, your country is invaded and here's someone coming around asking you for your opinion about the occupiers while thousands of soldiers with guns, bombs, tanks etc. are in your country. You don't think you might be a little intimidated to tell a pollster what you think they want to hear? Despicable propogandist bullshit...

[mistertrickster]

10. Good point . . . I noticed they didn't ask the obvious question of

Did you want to be invaded and militarially occupied by the United States?

[IndianaGreen]

11. A city without phone service and intermittent electricity

Who were the people polled? Chalabi and his friends?

I agree with you, there is too much tripe to dissect.

[Minstrel Boy]

13. This is not far from Der Sturmer polling the Warsaw Ghetto

to tell readers in the Homeland how impressed Polish Jews are with German efficiency.

[WinstonChurchill]

14. I Don't Trust Polls

This is like the Los Angeles Times Polls that assured all of us that Bustamante would win easily.

[NNN0LHI]

16. This is good news? By my count roughly 6.75 million Iraqis want us out now

And that is using Gallups figures. I don't find this poll very comforting with those kinds of numbers.

Don

[0007]

17. Americans aren't that dumb

to believe that this poll was on the square.

1. Who wanted the poll to be taken?

2. Why was the poll taken?

Wouldn't the Iraqi be afraid to say, yes I want the troops to go home?

This is so bogus.