ABC News Tonight - Polling Iraq

[alcuno]

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/GoodMorningAmerica/Iraq_anniversary_poll_040314.html

Here's a poll of about 2700 Iraqis. It was conducted by face to face interviews.

"March 15— A year after the bombs began to fall, Iraqis express ambivalence about the U.S.-led invasion of their country, but not about its effect: Most say their lives are going well and have improved since before the war, and expectations for the future are very high.

Worries exist — locally about joblessness, nationally about security — boosting desires for a "single strong leader," at least in the short term. Yet the first media-sponsored national public opinion poll in Iraq also finds a strikingly optimistic people, expressing growing interest in politics, broad rejection of political violence, rising trust in the Iraqi police and army and preference for an inclusive and democratic government.

More Iraqis say the United States was right than say it was wrong to lead the invasion, but by just 48 percent to 39 percent, with 13 percent expressing no opinion — hardly the unreserved welcome some U.S. policymakers had anticipated.

As many Iraqis say the war "humiliated" Iraq as say it "liberated" the country; more oppose than support the presence of coalition forces there now (although most also say they should stay for the time being); and relatively few express confidence in those forces, in the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority, or in the Iraqi Governing Council."


There is a lot of information in this poll.

[Heyo]

1. We are being lied to...

Because the media is so bloodthirsty, all they want to report is death and destruction....

The picture over there is a lot different than the supposed destitute devastated country many people claim that it is now...

Kids are going to school and college, even nightclubs and resteraunts... people are starting business, getting jobs, getting married, building houses, etc... all the stuff a people do when they are allowed to prosper...kids watch sports and listen to music... shows how alike we all are as humans..

I really hope for the best for those poor people.. I hope something good can come out of the misery of the last few decades...

:yourock: Good for them!

Heyo

[htuttle]

3. You know, I smelled this post from outside the thread...

...and I asked myself, "What is that stench?"

Turns out, it is a steaming pile of horseshit, right here.

Who is your doctor, and how can I get some of what you are on? I mean that in only the most respectful way, of course.

:hi:

[Heyo]

5. Care to elaborate on that?

?

[htuttle]

7. Would you?

Where do you see this happy, happy picture of 'liberated Iraq'?

Regarding this poll: On the one hand, you take the poll as valid, yet repudiate 'the media' (the source of the poll) on the other when they report negative news. What you seem to be suggesting is that the media is only biased when they report bad news, especially when they report news bad for the Bush administration. On the face of it, this is contradictory.

To the validity of the poll itself, I guess I'd give it about as much validity as a poll in Pravda in 1948 that showed Czechoslovakians happier under Communism.

Even with that, the poll's results ain't that good. Only a 10% difference between 'liberated' and 'humiliated', with 13% 'no answer' makes it a dead heat on loving us versus hating us.

[CatWoman]

8. to take it one step further

how many Iraqis are REALLY going to share their true feelings.

they are under OCCUPATION.

that's like sending a reporter to the fields to interview slaves. what are they gonna say? we hate this place?? :shrug:

[Clyyyde]

9. ABC hired Oxford Research International to conduct this

poll. Are you saying they are not reliable? Are the results made up? Being cynical is fine but you can't simply dismiss whatever results you don't like just because they don't suit you.

[htuttle]

10. If you look at the numbers, instead of the spin, it's not the same story

Look at the answers to the questions when they drop the Kurd's opinions out of the statistics:

(Answers from Arabs only)
U.S.-led invasion:
Was right: 40%
Was wrong: 46%

Liberated Iraq: 33%
Humiliated Iraq: 48%

Presence of coalition forces:
Support: 30%
Oppose: 60%

When you look at the answers for the 'Iraq's Need for Governance' question, you can pretty much see who they DIDN'T poll:

Single strong Iraqi leader 47%
Iraqi democracy 28%
Government of religious leaders: 10%
Group of strong Iraqi leaders: 3%
Government of experts/managers: 2%
Iraqi Governing Council: 2%
U.N. transition government: 1%
Government of Iraqi military leaders: 1%
Coalition Provisional Authority: 1%

Hmm. Only 10% want a government of religious leaders? Aren't the Shia the most numerous group in Iraq? So who did they poll, here? Apparently not many Shia.

And for the Kurds, of course they are happy. They are finally going to get their own country out of this.

This isn't the 'everything is going fine' poll that it's being made out to be, even biased as it is.

[Jacobin]

15. Hey!! Their unemployment rate is only 70%!!!!

What's not to be happy about.

Plus there are US soldiers knocking down your doors and feeling up your wives every night.

Every Iraqi's dream come true, I'm sure.

[Heyo]

11. I'm really not looking at the poll....

I'm going mostly on what a good friend of mine who just came back from there has described. (serving in the army in Karbala and Baghdad)

Now I know that's just one person, but we've gone out for drinks and had time to discuss it, as well as spoke on the phone at lenght before he got back down here from his parents' house in N.C. after he got in. But this is a person who I trust, we've known each other since 9th grade. Take it with a grain of salt, I'm not going to try and convince you, just reporting what I know as we all do from our own perspective.

I also saw some letters and photo album sent back by the brother of a co-worker of mine... all of which paint a different picture than what's being shown in the media. Which I am GLAD about.. I'm GLAD it's better than what's being reported. I'm GLAD the people are happy and flourishing...

Don't get me wrong.. I wasn't trying to talk politcs or anything like that.... I was just remarking that I am glad to see a nation people that has endured decades or war, constant fear, and brutal dictatorship finally doing alot better.

Whether you are for or against removing Saddam set aside, we should all hope for the best for the people who live in that country. Just trying to show a little optimism, that's all. I could honestly care less about the politics of it anymore, politics tends to blur reality.

The relationship between the Iraqi people was apparently chilly at first, a little trepadition but not outwardly hostile, and gradually warming to a mutual cooperation over time.

Alot of the place, Karbala at least, has a lot of construction going on, both new buildings going up and war damage, there's alot less ruble than one would think.. I will see if I can get some digital pictures to share with you all.. just for how interesting they are if nothing else.

The polls I take with a grain of salt as I do most polls...

Best regards all...

Heyo

[htuttle]

13. I'm guessing Xanax...

:hi:

[Clyyyde]

6. So are you saying ABC

is wrong or the conclusions of the poster?

[John BigBootay]

2. Interesting---

Hope they have nothing but good times ahead.

[MAlibdem]

4. Ok...that's one way to look at it

OR...


How Iraqis See Their Lives Overall
How things are going today: All North South Central Baghdad
Good 70% 85% 65% 70% 67%
Bad 29 14 34 28 32
Compared to a year ago, before the war:
Better 56% 70% 63% 54% 46%
Same 23 15 21 22 31
Worse 19 13 13 23 23
How they'll be a year from now:
Better 71% 83% 74% 70% 63%
Same 9 4 6 10 16
Worse 7 1 4 9 10

[Heyo]

14. Maybe I'm just daft...

But what to the multiple results for each question mean? Consecutive polls going forward?

[Zynx]

12. Those numbers are contradictory.