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Iran: Unprecedented Nationwide Survey
TerrorFreeTomorrow ^

Posted on 07/11/2007 12:41:24 PM PDT by nuconvert

Iran: Unprecedented Nationwide Survey

Discontent with the current system of government, the state of Iran’s economy, and isolation from the West is widespread throughout Iran. In this context, nuclear weapons are the lowest priority for the Iranian people. Iranians even overwhelmingly support their government providing full inspections and a guarantee not to develop nuclear weapons in return for trade and assistance from other countries. The popular will to live in a democracy open to the West and the United States, with greater economic opportunity, comes from every region and segment of Iranian society. These are among the significant findings of the first nationwide public opinion survey of Iran on these issues since President Ahmadinejad took office in August 2005.

The survey was conducted by telephone from June 5th to June 18th, 2007, with 1,000 interviews proportionally distributed according to the population covering all 30 provinces of Iran. The last poll to ask similar controversial questions was conducted in September 2003 by Abbas Abdi inside Iran, who was imprisoned as a result.

Developing nuclear weapons was seen as a very important priority for the Iranian government by only 29% of Iranians. By contrast, 88% of Iranians considered improving the Iranian economy as a very important priority for their government. Rather, 80% of Iranians favor Iran providing full inspections and a guarantee not to develop or possess nuclear weapons in return for outside aid.

(excerpt)

68% of Iranians also favor normal relations and trade with the United States. In return for normal relations, a majority of Iranians favor recognizing Israel and Palestine as independent states, ending Iranian support for any armed groups inside Iraq, and full transparency by Iran to the United States to ensure there are no Iranian endeavors to develop nuclear weapons.

Yet the most significant finding of our survey for Iran’s present rulers may be the Iranian people’s opposition to their current system of government. 61% of Iranians were willing to tell our pollsters over the phone that they oppose the current Iranian system of government, where the Supreme Leader rules according to religious principles and cannot be chosen or replaced by direct vote of the people.

Even more telling, however, over 79% of Iranians support a democratic system instead, where the Supreme Leader, along with all leaders, can be chosen and replaced by a free and direct vote of the people.

(See original source link for the questions asked, methodology and more information)


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iran; survey
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To: nuconvert
It must be emphasized that people are understandably reluctant to answer truthfully. So the results are quite significant.

Freedom to speak without worry of government intrusion can be a beneficial effect for an individual.

21 posted on 07/11/2007 3:55:02 PM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: airborne
I don’t feel that sorry for them considering they don’t have the balls to revolt. They would be surprised at the help they would get if they did.
22 posted on 07/11/2007 4:15:35 PM PDT by ANGGAPO (LayteGulfBeachClub)
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To: nuconvert

Unfortunately the people with the vast majority of the guns have other plans. As our founding fathers knew, no gun = no vote.


23 posted on 07/11/2007 5:55:36 PM PDT by bsaunders
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To: airborne
Iran has lots of oil, but not the refineries to convert oil into gas. So, wouldn’t it have been better to build refineries than reactors?

They stole all the oil companies equipt way back when. Who in their right mind would build a refinery there now?
Islam has reduced the population to be barely able to do basic arithmatic, it is why the attacks in Britan failed recently.
They could not build them if they wanted to. The only way they are getting nuke tech is by buying foreign expertise.

24 posted on 07/11/2007 7:37:08 PM PDT by JoinJuniorAchievement (“Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.")
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To: nuconvert

Bump and bookmark


25 posted on 07/11/2007 8:43:25 PM PDT by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
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To: ANGGAPO

Do you have any idea of what has gone on inside Iran for the last couple of years? Because if you did you wouldn’t say such silly things.


26 posted on 07/11/2007 8:45:12 PM PDT by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
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