My Summary of the US Military response to the Tips Hotline survey on Iraq

[keopeli]

My Summary of the US Military response to the Tips Hotline survey on Iraq

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.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. interesting. If I wasn't so tired this might actually penetrate my brain

but I am gonna bookmark it so I can come back and look at it again tomorrow.

[keopeli]

2. That's how I felt when I first read the article - which is why I tried to

which is why I tried to simplify it. The way the military was spinning this survey was mind-boggling.

Of course, we have to glean the statistics and questions from the report to see what is really being said.

And I have no idea about the reliability of the polling company.

I do, on the other hand, have an idea about the reliability of press releases from the US Military.

My only regret is that I didn't have the time to make it more concise.