Most Iraqis Want Troops to Stay, Says Poll

The Guardian ^ | July 17, 2003 | Michael Howard

[Pubbie]

A majority of Baghdad residents feel US and British troops should stay in Iraq for at least a year, according to the first attempt at an opinion poll. The You.Gov poll results were released as news emerged that a ground-to-air missile was fired at a US military plane near Baghdad airport.

The poll said 31% wanted troops to stay "a few years", while 25% said "about a year."

Only 13% said they should leave now, while 20% said they should go "within 12 months".

The survey also found that half thought the US-led coalition was right to invade.

You.Gov said there was no certainty that the 798 respondents were a representative sample and that several interviews were conducted with gunfire in the background.

[Pubbie]

This poll was taken in Central Iraq, the part of Iraq that was the most supportive of the Saddam.

In the rest of the country the support for the US occupation would surely be even higher.

Also worth noting that virtually all of the attacks on American forces are coming from Central Iraq only.

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Lighten Up, Francis!

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[ysoitanly]

Do my eyes deceive me? Is this halfway-supportive article from the GUARDIAN?

[Pubbie]

I guess even they couldn't spin this poll...

[PhiKapMom]

We need to see if any of the cable news outlets pick up on this story! The lack of positive news stories out of Iraq by the America media is telling and shows their agenda mirrors the Clintons DemocRATs. Even this comes from the Brits!

[eric_da_grate]

This is encouraging news and it's about time that we had some reaction by the Iraqis themselves about where things stand and how they view our military's efforts so far....I try hard to be optimistic, despite reports that troop morale is on the wain....We really need to concentrate on keeping our soldiers SAFE and alert because we really want them back home ASAP!!

[Loyal Buckeye]

I heard a member of the military who just returned from Iraq say on the radio that the Iraqis want us (our military)to stay for 50 years. Just a little different perspective from someone who has been there.