Poll of Iraqis Reveals Anger Toward U.S.

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040615/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_us_poll&cid=540&ncid=1480

<snip>
WASHINGTON - A poll of Iraqis commissioned by the U.S.-backed government has provided the Bush administration a stark picture of anti-American sentiment — more than half of Iraqis believe they would be safer if U.S. troops simply left.

The poll, commissioned by the Coalition Provisional Government last month but not released to the American public, also found radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is surging in popularity, 92 percent of Iraqis consider the United States an occupying force and more than half believe all Americans behave like those portrayed in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse photos.


The Associated Press obtained a copy of a multimedia presentation about the poll that was shown to U.S. officials involved in developing Iraq (news - web sites) policy. Several officials said in interviews the results reinforced feelings that the transfer of power and security responsibilities to the Iraqis can't come too soon.


"If you are sitting here as part of the coalition, it (the poll) is pretty grim," said Donald Hamilton, a career foreign service officer who is working for Ambassador Paul Bremer's interim government and helps oversee the CPA's polling of Iraqis.

[Stew225]

1. Whoa! There's a real shocker.

I wonder what got into them?

[Larkspur]

2. Wow! Sadr is polling higher than Bush ever did!!

92% approval rating for Sadr among his countrymen, and what, 47% for Bush, among his countrymen. Wow!!!!

[fishwax]

4. 92% not Sadr's approval rating

That's the percentage of Iraqis who consider the U.S. an occupying force.

[Journeyman]

5. I think you need to re-read the article. . .

n/t

[Aidoneus]

8. actually, his approval rating is 67%

2nd only to Sayyid Sistani, who pulls in 70%. That's remarkable. Both do not have corresponding figures if they would run for President; which works out fine for them, since neither are. Another figure is 82% who have an improved opinion of Sayyid Muqtada since taking on the occupation forces.

[killbotfactory]

3. Good Job Bush!

Iraqi's have the freedom to hate us now! That invasion sure was worth it. Keep it up and you'll make Saddam a hero to the middle east!

[Spazito]

6. Damn truth seeps out despite bush's best efforts!

I bet if they took the same poll in Afghanistan, it would be about the same if one excudes Kabul, the only protected place there.

[UpInArms]

7. this mal-administration will say that they

don't "take" polls and that this is just a "focus group".

[leftchick]

9. Christiane Amanpour on CNN followed this story....

this morning on the CNN Morning show. I love her! She said this poll was done a while ago and was not meant to be released because of the bad news in it for the US. Someone (in the CPA?) leaked it to the AP. She then interviewed a woman radio show host in Baghdad with reaction about life in Iraq today from some callers. It certainly was a change from regular CNN viewing!

Stay safe in Baghdad Christiane!

[Aidoneus]

11. Interesting

There seems to be 2 polls here, then. The CPA poll done "a while ago" was before the major massacre in al-Fallujah and the Sadrist intifada. Now, this poll speaks of past-tense with regards to those 2 events (Sadr's popularity with over 80% of the Iraq people rising from before, etc) and the white world "discovering" what everybody else knew about the goingson in the concentration camps in Iraq.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. I just can't imagine why the Iraqis would be angry toward the U. S....

...don't they know that the mission is accomplished and that they are free from that torturer Saddam??

THEY HATE US FOR OUR FREEDOM!!

Yikes. I can't believe that they would need to use a poll to "discover" how the Iraqis really feel.

[Tina H]

12. Somebody get these numbers to Candidate Kerry!

so that he can adjust his position on continuing the occupation.

[struggle4progress]

13. kick

:kick:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. This is the thanks we get...

...for freeing them from a sadistic dictator
...for bombing their homes
...for maiming and killing innocents

I think they have a problem expressing gratitude.

[number6]

15. Bush is a uniter ....

not a divider (there all united agianst us)

[TLDHOME99]

16. They are angry with us? No way! After we

Lied about our reasons for invading, bombed and looted their country, imprisoned and tortured their citizens, raped their women and children, killed thousands of innocent citizens? Why on earth should they be angry? Sheesh! Picky, picky! You would think they would be grateful to be "liberated!" What more do they want from us?
(sarcasm)

:shrug:

[geniph]

17. They believe they'd be safer if U.S. troops left?!

My goodness, don't they appreciate all we're doing for them - bombing their civilians, shooting up hospitals, torturing the innocent...I mean, come on, it's not Saddam doing the torturing any more, you think they'd appreciate that! Some gratitude! Hrrrmph.