Summary and Analysis of the First Iraq Poll

The Amercian Eterprise ^ | 9/10/2003 | Karl Zinsmeister

[Cathryn Crawford]

I had never heard about this poll until my economics class this morning, in which my (extremely conservative) professor discussed why America is different and his opinion on why other nations do not agree with us, and he brought it up.

I thought it was interesting that the first choice of the country that Iraqis wanted to emulate was the U.S.; I found it more interesting that the second choice was Saudi a Arabia. The two countries farthest from each other of the choices were the closest in numbers statistically.

[Cathryn Crawford]

This is interesting. Take a look.

[bryanbig]

Great article. Not that I expect it to get much coverage, but it's good to have some empirical proof to back up "gut" feel.

[AgThorn]

This is great news and needs to be broadcast in detail, powerpoint slides, etc on Fox news!! Hey, O'Reilly! you listening?!!?!?

[AgThorn]

This is great news and needs to be broadcast in detail, powerpoint slides, etc on Fox news!! Hey, O'Reilly! you listening?!!?!?

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

Where do you go to school? With a professor like that, it may stay on the list for my kids and notmove to the Berkley side (as in you go there I don't pay side.)

[Cathryn Crawford]

Well, it isn't all good. I attend the University of Texas; I have a spectacularly wonderful economics professor and a horribly, horribly awful education teacher. She is liberal, and not only is she liberal, she stuffs it down your throat violently. My Constitutional law professor is also a liberal; however, he does an okay job keeping it to himself, and I enjoy his class. The ed class is torture, however.

[L,TOWM]

Ping and bump.

[menotyu]

I thought it was interesting that the first choice of the country that Iraqis wanted to emulate was the U.S.; I found it more interesting that the second choice was Saudi a Arabia. The two countries farthest from each other of the choices were the closest in numbers statistically

That is rather strange. Maybe they like our porn , I just read on Drudge that the porn industry is thriving in Iraq. LOL

[metesky]

It appears that it's so lopsided that even Zogby couldn't cook the numbers.

[eyespysomething]

I saw it discussed on Fox news last night, can't remember the show, though.

[menotyu]

I'm sure they're aware of this . I heard an interview with the author on WLS (abc affiliate) radio this morning. This will get out.

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

I went to grad school for a masters in teaching and I found that almost all education teachers tend to be very liberal,extole the benefits of the public dole (after all, they are on it) and only seem to consider innovative teaching in terms of a public school classroom (ie. not considering privateor charter schools or homeschooling).

I got into quite a few arguements while I was there!

[ValenB4]

Yes. It's a very mixed bag. But the fact that the younger generation is more pro-US and pro-West is hardly surprising. And that trend is mostly universally true throughout the entire Muslim world. That fact strengthens the view that the war was unnecessary and that over time these cultural problems, stemming from the inherent dysfunctionality of Islam, will sort themselves out and eventually fade away. We don't need to be an empire. We just need to set an example and people will naturally gravitate toward our own system of liberty. $87 billion worth of money dedicated to setting up a series of American Universities across the region would do far more good than this colonialist adventure. Shining City on a Hill - all that good stuff.

But if you look here, there are two findings from the same poll:
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1059479720102&p=1012571727162

Asked whether in the next five years the US would "help" Iraq, 35.3 per cent said yes while 50 per cent said the US would "hurt" Iraq. Asked the same of the UN, the figures were almost reversed, with 50.2 per cent saying it would help and 18.5 per cent the opposite.

Regarding US and British troops, some 31 per cent wanted them to leave in six months and a total of 65.5 per cent in a year. Some 25 per cent said they should stay two years or more.

And don't underestimate a determined minority regarding the imposition of an Islamic government. Supposedly, only a third of colonial American wanted to be independent from Britain.

[happygrl]

That fact strengthens the view that the war was unnecessary and that over time these cultural problems, stemming from the inherent dysfunctionality of Islam, will sort themselves out and eventually fade away.

I disagree.

Polls taken in the 1950s showed these same results. America was the most-favored nation to emulate among Arabs. I read this right here on FR.

Why didn't they then ?

Some 40+years have past with the Arab region stagnating while other areas of the globe have left them in the dust.

Something on the order of an intervention (like with alcoholics) was needed to rid them of Saddam and his heirs (Bahir Assad has followed his father with no move to usher in democracy). Islamism as an ideology has grown, not subsided in the last 40 years.

The Arabs needed a break, a fresh start, and a mentor and model. Our soldiers have given the Iraqis a gift incorporating all of the above.

I wish them well, believing that they have learned lessons from both the Islamists in Iran and the tyrants in their own and neighboring countries.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks for the ping!

[L,TOWM]

That's quite alright. I'm gonna love watching the Dems working themselves into a lather, going into full "Vietnam Again!" mode this spring. Then have Bush announce an Iraqi Constitutional Referendum to be held in May. Free elections in September. And then, at the 2004 GOP convention, announce a 12/1/04 "handover" date to the Republic of Iraq of internal security, and natioanl administration, with basing and trade agreements to occur shortly thereafter.

I love it when a plan comes together...

A bunch of dead jihadiwhackos, a true modern Republic in the Middle East, and whole boat load of saddened and deeply disappointed rats. hehehehe

[bryanbig]

I just sent the link to a friend. He said the Financial Times ran it on Page 5 today, with a completely negative spin. It was in the Middle East/Africa section.

The headline was "Poll Underlines Iraqi Distrust of America".

I think it's time we put our foot down on shoddy reporting like this. Anyone know the email address to write the FT and let them know what we think about this level of spin?

BTW< they did mention the part about being better in 5 years..in the last paragraph.

[kidd]

Also on Rush Limbaugh's website:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_091003/content/stack_c.guest.html