Survey Shows Iraqis Do Not Support Terrorists

[ECH1969]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2005 – A recent poll in Iraq shows Iraqis do not support the terrorists launching attacks in their country, Defense Department officials speaking on background said here today.

However, officials said, the poll also shows that Iraqis want foreign troops to leave the country. An Iraqi company conducted the poll between July 12 and 17.

An overwhelming number of Iraqis say there is no justification for attacks on Iraqi civilians, Iraqi security forces or Iraqi public service infrastructure. A total of 94 percent of Iraqis say there is no excuse for attacks on Iraqi security forces, 97 percent say there is no justification for attacking civilians, and 97 percent are against attacks on infrastructure.

Half of those polled said there was no excuse for attacks against coalition personnel, while 40 percent said there is a justification and 10 percent saying they don't know.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2005/20050809_2381.html
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Notice the DoD didn't put out the percentage of Iraqis that want the US out, they just say that most want us gone. Also, if you look further into the poll it is pretty easy to see that it was taken in mostly Shia and Kurdish areas of Iraq.

[babylonsister]

1. For crying out loud, let's hear from someone

not associated at all with the US govt! Let's get THAT truth out. Then we'll talk.

[Mr. Peanut]

18. Calling Deep Throat...

we need a new Deep Throat to expose what BushCo is hiding behind the curtain. The fear, I suppose, is finding as principled a journalist as Bob Woodward was, who would keep his/her identity secret.

[Cocoa]

2. defenselink.mil is a crappy source

it's the Pentagon's official mouthpiece, openly dedicated to promoting the war.

[ECH1969]

6. Of course it is

But, that doesn't mean we shouldn't post when they come out with something like this.

It is easy to massage numbers in polls, and you can see very clearly how it was done in this poll.

They didn't even say the number that wanted us out of the country, which I suspect was overwealming.

[ender]

3. anybody else picturing richard dawson??

What percentage of Iraqis DONT support terrorism...

Survey SAYS???

[JAbuchan08]

4. Somehow I doubt Iraqis have the same definition of "terrorist" as

most Americans - for one... and then there's the section you highlighted. You know here terrorist means anyone with brown skin living in a certain part of the world. There terrorist likely means only those who have an even more casual attitude (and loose definition of) toward collateral damage as our own leadership.

[Kagemusha]

10. I imagine the definition is like this: "Sunni radical murderer"

So the overwhelming number of Shiites don't approve of these Sunni terrorists. ... ... Duh.

[JAbuchan08]

11. And then if you poll a bunch of Sunnis.... eom

n/t

[firefox]

5. Have you ever heard of coersion

Was a tank in front of the house when they asked this? Were they on the floor with their hands cuffed behind their back? Maybe they tortured them. These numbers are even less reliable than the ones that say 42% of Americans think WarCriminal is doing a fine job.

[VegasWolf]

7. Fine Print. Poll conducted with 100 male Iraqis living in the Green

Zone working directly for the US Occupation Force (USOF). Results
accutate +- 50%.

[keopeli]

8. I think it's pretty unlikely to ever yield a result of 97%, even 94%

These are odd figures. What's the last real poll you heard of that had 90+% of anyone in agreement? 97, in fact, must be within the margin of error, making it possible the total is 100%. That sounds more like one of Saddam's pretend elections in which he was elected president by 100% of Iraqis.

97% say there is no justification for attacks on infrastructure? I don't think you could even get that in the US.

Even without knowing the source (who is clearly biased), this poll reads like propoganda. It's amazing to me that anyone in this country buys into this stuff.

[barb162]

12. The numbers on infrastructure sound plausible

They have to be beyond FED UP with having their water supplies, electricity, etc., on the fritz a lot of the time (especially when it is about 120 degrees there). Also when they have to buy gasoline from neighboring countries because pipelines have been bombed out, I could see where that just might get on their nerves.

[bettyellen]

9. is this from the audience of Family Feud? or more from MJ's jury?

who was surveyed? who the hell could take an accurate poll in a war zone?

[BillZBubb]

13. Why post this propaganda?

This poll is about a valuable as an online Hannity poll.

[geckosfeet]

14. Duuh. They need a survey to figure that out ? nt

[Cocoa]

17. yes of course they need a poll

how else would they know? Duh.

[keopeli]

15. Here's a summary of the Survey results and Pentagon response

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2005/20050809_2381.html

How is the security situation in Iraq today (mid-July) compared to last May?

16% "much better"
46% "somewhat better"
20% "somewhat worse"
14% "much worse" than three months ago.

Do anti-government forces come mostly from other countries?

63% Yes
37% No or No comment

Is there a good reason for attacking US soldiers?

50% No
40% Yes
10% had no comment

Are you in favor of attacks on Iraqis who work with the Americans?

81% No
12% Yes
7% had no comment

Do the Iraqi security forces represent all of Iraq or just one group?

77% All
23$ Said either None or no comment.

Are Iraq's security forces winning the fight against anti-government forces?

75% Yes
25% Said either No or no comment

Do you believe the Iraqi police and military work within the law and respect the rights of the people?

73% Yes
27% No or No comment

Would you agree that the sooner Iraqi forces can establish security on their own, the sooner US forces can leave?

80% Yes
20% No or No comment

Is there a good reason for attacking civilians or public utilities?
3% Yes
97% No

1,200 Iraqis answered the questions.

--
Pentagon's response to these findings:

Iraqis see foreign troops as occupation forces. Therefore, the coalition policy of training Iraqis to take the lead in the security arena is the right policy.

Iraqis are proud of their security forces - a sea change from the way most regarded the forces under Saddam Hussein. (There was no given response to a question about pride in their forces.)

==
Anomalies:

The Pentagon surmises that Iraqis want foreign troops to leave the country. It is unclear whether these foreign troops are "anti-government" forces or pro-government forces. Iraqis believe that "anti-government" forces come mostly from other countries (a.k.a. foreign troops). Ironically, the US military believes that "most anti-government forces are Iraqis." When asked why Iraqis believe that anti-government forces come from other countries while the US Military asserts that most anti-government terrorists are Iraqis, the Pentagon says that Iraqis are misled.

[Name removed]

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