From Truth About Iraquis
A report published in the Sunday Telegraph cites a secret poll commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence examining Iraqi attitudes towards attacks on US/UK forces.This report can be found at the Sunday Telegraph site here.
The survey was conducted by an Iraqi university research team that, for security reasons, was not told the data it compiled would be used by coalition forces. It reveals:
• 45% of Iraqis believe attacks against British and American troops are justified - rising to 65% in the British-controlled Maysan province;
• 82% are "strongly opposed" to the presence of coalition troops;
• less than 1% of the population believes coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security;
• 67% of Iraqis feel less secure because of the occupation;
• 43% of Iraqis believe conditions for peace and stability have worsened;
• 72% do not have confidence in the multi-national forces.
The opinion poll, carried out in August, also debunks claims by both the US and British governments that the general well-being of the average Iraqi is improving in post-Saddam Iraq.
But there are also other startling facts buried deep in the report. For example,
Immediately after the war the coalition embarked on a campaign of reconstruction in which it hoped to improve the electricity supply and the quality of drinking water.
That appears to have failed, with the poll showing that 71 per cent of people rarely get safe clean water, 47 per cent never have enough electricity, 70 per cent say their sewerage system rarely works and 40 per cent of southern Iraqis are unemployed.
In related news, I would suggest reading the following Reuters report.
Excerpts:
More than two years after U.S. leaders dismissed insurgents as "dead-enders," their attacks are more lethal than ever -- and the American military death toll since the March 2003 invasion is approaching 2,000.
U.S. commanders now stress the violence will not end until there is a political solution.
Political solution, folks. Not the malarkey of a referendum which is sure to ignite tension further.
Moussa's visit to the Kurdish areas in Iraq today is a positive step.
Meanwhile, the US press seems to have forgiven Chalabi for the allegations of selling secrets to Iran. They are touting him as the next prime minister of Iraq. So, like any good Iraqi politician who wants to climb up the corpses of his countrymen he travels to Washington.
Seems Treasury Secretary Snow has invited him over. Treasury Secretary? Hmmm...
Euros, anyone?
