Millions of Iraqis voting and hundreds of thousands volunteering for the police and army - all at the extreme risk of their lives - doesn't convince our leftwing critics that Iraq is anything other than an abject failure. Our lefty friends, however, do have a hankering for polls - and there is a new survey of Iraqi attitudes, as Richard Nadler notes over at National Review Online:
American viewers of network news, and Arabic viewers of al-Jazeera TV, generally regard Operation Iraqi Freedom as a failure for various reasons: Iraqis are too sectarian to form a nation; they reject democracy as an imposition; or the average Iraqi lives a life of fear due to the deterioration of security since Saddam’s fall.
The International Republican Institute’s “Survey of Iraqi Public Opinion,” released July 19, 2006, provides a useful reality check to these assumptions. The survey records that Iraqis overwhelmingly reject sectarianism and national division; and that they widely support the government they have elected. Moreover, most Iraqis feel safe in their own neighborhoods.
The poll is the latest addition to a series that the Institute has sponsored for the past three years. The surveys were conducted June 14 through June 24 this year—a time of high sectarian violence, particularly in the Baghdad area. The pollsters conducted 2849 interviews in Arabic and Kurdish, balanced for geography, ethnicity, sex, and age.
Some of the findings: 94% of Iraqis support a unity government; 78% oppose segregation on religions lines - in Baghdad, where most of hte sectarian violence occurs, 76% are opposed; 23% of Sunnis (you know, the people who make up the bulk of our Iraqi problem) support the current Iraqi government - while the government enjoys a 58% nationwide support; the top three issues for Iraqis are security, infrastructure and jobs - American withdrawal is the top priority of 13% of Iraqis; while only 23% of Iraqis consider security in Iraq to be good, 60% of Iraqis rate the security in their own neighborhoods as good (meaning that the Iraqis, too, are victims of MSM propaganda broadcasts on behalf of the terrorists).
All in all, the survey indicates the truth on the ground in Iraq - it isn't nearly as bad as MSM reporting and leftwing propaganda makes it. It is pretty nasty in Baghdad - and, of course, a good part of the reason for this is that probably 99% of the MSM is there, and thus the terrorists and others who wish Iraqi democracy to fail do a lot of their mayhem in Baghdad, always timed to either make the morning or evening American newscasts.
What to do about it? Just what we are doing now - keep the faith with our President, our magnificent fighting men and women and the sublimely courageous Iraqi people. It isn't always easy to do the right thing, but it is always worth it.
UPDATE: This is some really good news:
Marines here say the amount of insurgent attacks against Coalition and Iraqi military forces have drastically decreased since three Marines eliminated two insurgents in a counterattack in front of the forward operating base here last month.
Marines assigned to the Hawaii-based Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment said the outcome of the counterattack sent a message to the insurgents: they will be outgunned and overpowered in a firefight with Marines and Iraqi soldiers.
God must love us, or he wouldn't give us the sort of men who make up the United States Marine Corps - and this is said by a former Swabbie.
Posted by Mark Noonan at July 23, 2006 02:26 AM
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Comments
Mark, right on. Anything worthwhile is going to take hard work and patience. But in the end, the reward will be great. Iran and syria will have to be dealt with if not now then later. Why do the democrats always have "issues" whenever a republican president is in the white house. The dems always put their own self interest ahead of the country. When the republican president Abraham Lincoln was fighting to keep the union together and free the slaves, the democrats platform was to appease the southern confederacy, let the south go their own way and leave the institution of slavery alive and well. Today, e are fighting for our survival against the deadliest enemy ever faced, radical islamofascist suicide bombers with weapons of mass destruction. God has given us President George W. Bush during this time in history, just as humanity was given George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill in the past. Thank God. All the dems have to offer is to blame President Bush for the weather and try to impeach him for protecting America. God bless President Bush for his brilliant leadership after 9/11 and for his brilliant and courageous fighting of the war on terror. I will never forget President Bush holding the bull horn at ground zero with his arm around the firemen telling the terrorists that their days are numbered, and President Bush standing on the mound in Yankee Stadium throwing a perfect strike while the crowd in NYC yelled out USA, USA, and I will never forget President Bush's brilliant speech before Congress where he rightfully named the axis of evil and told the world that any country that harbors a terrorist is a terrorist. President George W. Bush, the greatest president in american history.
Posted by: james allegro at July 23, 2006 12:24 PM
The sound of crickets is deafening. Here, I will post a lib response:
Lalalalalala, I can't hear you! Booooosh Boooosh EEEEEEvil EEEEEvil Plame Plame Plame Global Warming whine whine. Oh, and Halliburtion!
Posted by:
Reverend Scaramonga at July 23, 2006 01:34 PM
If these polls are a true reflection of the situation, as I suspect they are, this government appears to have broad support of the governed. Those who are opposed will need to learn the art of compromise. This should happen once they understand they will not be able to achieve their goals by force. This will require a decisive victory over the insurgency.
The problem with "a change of direction", "redeploy," or "cut and run" depending on how one wishes to label the policy is it will mean that US troops will withdraw. Without US troops to supply security for the soverign elected government, the chances of this government surviving would be slim and nill. In other words, the soverign elected government of Iraq would fall.
After the overthrow of this government, the chances of the new government being a friend to the US are virtually nill. As we stand now, their is no guarantee that the elected Iraqi government will be allied with the US. We are truly between Iraq and a hard place. If we change direction, in the way the anti war activists want us to we are virtually guaranteed to get an Iraq government who will be opposed to US interests. If we stay the current course, we may or may not end up with an Iraqi government who is allied to the US. FRankly some of the statements coming from Iraqi leaders are not encouraging. This would be a sad state of affairs to sacrifice so much blood and treasure only to end with an Iraqi government who is opposed to America's interests.
Mark asks: "What to do about it?" I suggest committing more troops and resources to the operation. Security is the top priority. I suspect who ever crushes the insurgency and brings security to Iraq, whether it is the elected government or a new strong man, will be regarded as a hero among the Iraqi populace.
If we commit more troops and resources to the operation, we should be able to bring security to Iraq. If we can do this, we should end up with a dependable ally.
Posted by: B.Poster at July 23, 2006 02:20 PM
This has nothing to do with supporting your delusional, paranoid old man club. Do you think the poll would be any different before the invasion of Iraq. No it wouldn't.
And BIGOTS like the REVEREND can go to hell, you displaced racist.
Posted by: SUSA at July 23, 2006 03:46 PM
Does seem to be a lot of non-liberal response here...I think that fact has set them back, and they are waiting for some Kos-generated talking points before responding...
Posted by: Mark Noonan at July 23, 2006 05:06 PM
The sound of crickets is deafening. Here, I will post a lib response:
Lalalalalala, I can't hear you! Booooosh Boooosh EEEEEEvil EEEEEvil Plame Plame Plame Global Warming whine whine. Oh, and Halliburtion!
Don't forget squealing like a pig, Rev!
Posted by: RushBaby at July 23, 2006 09:22 PM
Posted by:
Reverend Scaramonga at July 23, 2006 10:52 PM
This has nothing to do with supporting your delusional, paranoid old man club. Do you think the poll would be any different before the invasion of Iraq. No it wouldn't.
YOu paraody yourself. Next time try
Lalalalalala, I can't hear you! Booooosh Boooosh EEEEEEvil EEEEEvil Plame Plame Plame Global Warming whine whine. Oh, and Halliburtion!
And BIGOTS like the REVEREND can go to hell, you displaced racist.
Oooooh. I'm an atheist, I don't believe in Hell. Where should I go now? You know two words...Bigots and Racist. Too bad you have no idea what they mean.
next, try:
omina omina omina omnia (insert meaningless threat here)
yabut yabut yabut (more bigot bigot racist bigot bigot)
boo hoo. I want my mommie.
Come on, let us hear you squeal like a pig...
Posted by:
Reverend Scaramonga at July 23, 2006 10:53 PM
One of the saddest aspects of this time is the fact that so many Americans are acting with such selfless nobility and courage, and that this is being ignored/denied by those whose priorities are far different.
I'm in awe of the dedication and perserverance of our military. I am also aware that they are getting support and encouragement from the people they are serving in Iraq, and from their personal experiences of success, and can only hope that these sources of appreciation and gratitude overcome the venom spewed by the neorads here at home.
Posted by:
Almiranta at July 23, 2006 11:50 PM
Doesn't SUSA sound a lot like our pinhead hater, axis of ignorance? So funny that one spittle-spewing hatemonger leaves and another just happens to pop up.......
Of course, when they all regurgiate the same predigested pap fed to them by their minders, they all do sound the same....
Posted by:
Almiranta at July 23, 2006 11:58 PM
SUSA
The poll results would have been different before the invasion of Iraq. Before the invasion, Saddam was still in power. Iraq under Saddam Huessein did not have a free press. As such, Saddam Huessein would not have allowed anything that opposed him to be printed in the Iraqi media. I suspect any polls done by the Iraqi government when Huessein was in power would have shown Saddam's approval at about 98%. Iraq now has a free and independent news media.
Posted by: B.Poster at July 24, 2006 01:05 AM
What I was trying to say is under Saddam Huessein people would not have been allowed to speak freely. He routinely killed anyone who opposed him. No poll conducted by the Iraqi government under Saddam would have been worth the paper it was printed on.
Posted by: B.Poster at July 24, 2006 01:08 AM
Post a comment
Mark, right on. Anything worthwhile is going to take hard work and patience. But in the end, the reward will be great. Iran and syria will have to be dealt with if not now then later. Why do the democrats always have "issues" whenever a republican president is in the white house. The dems always put their own self interest ahead of the country. When the republican president Abraham Lincoln was fighting to keep the union together and free the slaves, the democrats platform was to appease the southern confederacy, let the south go their own way and leave the institution of slavery alive and well. Today, e are fighting for our survival against the deadliest enemy ever faced, radical islamofascist suicide bombers with weapons of mass destruction. God has given us President George W. Bush during this time in history, just as humanity was given George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill in the past. Thank God. All the dems have to offer is to blame President Bush for the weather and try to impeach him for protecting America. God bless President Bush for his brilliant leadership after 9/11 and for his brilliant and courageous fighting of the war on terror. I will never forget President Bush holding the bull horn at ground zero with his arm around the firemen telling the terrorists that their days are numbered, and President Bush standing on the mound in Yankee Stadium throwing a perfect strike while the crowd in NYC yelled out USA, USA, and I will never forget President Bush's brilliant speech before Congress where he rightfully named the axis of evil and told the world that any country that harbors a terrorist is a terrorist. President George W. Bush, the greatest president in american history.
The sound of crickets is deafening. Here, I will post a lib response:
Lalalalalala, I can't hear you! Booooosh Boooosh EEEEEEvil EEEEEvil Plame Plame Plame Global Warming whine whine. Oh, and Halliburtion!
If these polls are a true reflection of the situation, as I suspect they are, this government appears to have broad support of the governed. Those who are opposed will need to learn the art of compromise. This should happen once they understand they will not be able to achieve their goals by force. This will require a decisive victory over the insurgency.
The problem with "a change of direction", "redeploy," or "cut and run" depending on how one wishes to label the policy is it will mean that US troops will withdraw. Without US troops to supply security for the soverign elected government, the chances of this government surviving would be slim and nill. In other words, the soverign elected government of Iraq would fall.
After the overthrow of this government, the chances of the new government being a friend to the US are virtually nill. As we stand now, their is no guarantee that the elected Iraqi government will be allied with the US. We are truly between Iraq and a hard place. If we change direction, in the way the anti war activists want us to we are virtually guaranteed to get an Iraq government who will be opposed to US interests. If we stay the current course, we may or may not end up with an Iraqi government who is allied to the US. FRankly some of the statements coming from Iraqi leaders are not encouraging. This would be a sad state of affairs to sacrifice so much blood and treasure only to end with an Iraqi government who is opposed to America's interests.
Mark asks: "What to do about it?" I suggest committing more troops and resources to the operation. Security is the top priority. I suspect who ever crushes the insurgency and brings security to Iraq, whether it is the elected government or a new strong man, will be regarded as a hero among the Iraqi populace.
If we commit more troops and resources to the operation, we should be able to bring security to Iraq. If we can do this, we should end up with a dependable ally.
This has nothing to do with supporting your delusional, paranoid old man club. Do you think the poll would be any different before the invasion of Iraq. No it wouldn't.
And BIGOTS like the REVEREND can go to hell, you displaced racist.
Does seem to be a lot of non-liberal response here...I think that fact has set them back, and they are waiting for some Kos-generated talking points before responding...
The sound of crickets is deafening. Here, I will post a lib response:
Lalalalalala, I can't hear you! Booooosh Boooosh EEEEEEvil EEEEEvil Plame Plame Plame Global Warming whine whine. Oh, and Halliburtion!
Don't forget squealing like a pig, Rev!
test test test
This has nothing to do with supporting your delusional, paranoid old man club. Do you think the poll would be any different before the invasion of Iraq. No it wouldn't.
YOu paraody yourself. Next time try
Lalalalalala, I can't hear you! Booooosh Boooosh EEEEEEvil EEEEEvil Plame Plame Plame Global Warming whine whine. Oh, and Halliburtion!
And BIGOTS like the REVEREND can go to hell, you displaced racist.
Oooooh. I'm an atheist, I don't believe in Hell. Where should I go now? You know two words...Bigots and Racist. Too bad you have no idea what they mean.
next, try:
omina omina omina omnia (insert meaningless threat here)
yabut yabut yabut (more bigot bigot racist bigot bigot)
boo hoo. I want my mommie.
Come on, let us hear you squeal like a pig...
One of the saddest aspects of this time is the fact that so many Americans are acting with such selfless nobility and courage, and that this is being ignored/denied by those whose priorities are far different.
I'm in awe of the dedication and perserverance of our military. I am also aware that they are getting support and encouragement from the people they are serving in Iraq, and from their personal experiences of success, and can only hope that these sources of appreciation and gratitude overcome the venom spewed by the neorads here at home.
Doesn't SUSA sound a lot like our pinhead hater, axis of ignorance? So funny that one spittle-spewing hatemonger leaves and another just happens to pop up.......
Of course, when they all regurgiate the same predigested pap fed to them by their minders, they all do sound the same....
SUSA
The poll results would have been different before the invasion of Iraq. Before the invasion, Saddam was still in power. Iraq under Saddam Huessein did not have a free press. As such, Saddam Huessein would not have allowed anything that opposed him to be printed in the Iraqi media. I suspect any polls done by the Iraqi government when Huessein was in power would have shown Saddam's approval at about 98%. Iraq now has a free and independent news media.
What I was trying to say is under Saddam Huessein people would not have been allowed to speak freely. He routinely killed anyone who opposed him. No poll conducted by the Iraqi government under Saddam would have been worth the paper it was printed on.