Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

In a Poll, Baghdad Residents Call Freedom Worth the Price
NYTIMES ^ | AGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 23 | PATRICK E. TYLER

Posted on 09/25/2003 4:53:34 AM PDT by dennisw

Poll finds optimism in Baghdad Patrick E. Tyler/NYT NYT Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Two-thirds expect better life in 5 years

BAGHDAD After five months of foreign military occupation and the removal of Saddam Hussein, nearly two-thirds of Baghdad residents say the removal of the Iraqi dictator has been worth the hardships they have been forced to endure, a new Gallup poll shows.

Despite the systemic collapse of government and civic institutions, a crime wave of looting and violence and shortages of water and electricity, 67 percent of 1,178 Iraqis told a Gallup survey team that within five years, their lives will be better than before the U.S.-led invasion.

Only eight percent of those queried said they believed their lives would be worse off as a result of the military campaign to remove Saddam and his Baath Party leadership.

The survey, which was conducted in late August and early September, cut across the ethnically diverse landscape of the capital. The results revealed that Iraqis in the capital still maintain a great deal of skepticism about the motives of the United States and Britain, and residents said they hold France and its president, Jacques Chirac, in higher regard than President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain.

Chirac's rating was 42 percent favorable to Bush's 29 percent and Blair's 20 percent.

The poll results also showed that Baghdad residents were nearly evenly divided on whether the occupation authority headed by L. Paul Bremer 3rd was doing a good job, with 28 percent giving it a positive rating and 25 percent saying it is doing a poor job, on a five-point rating scale.

But half of the respondents said that the occupation authority was doing a better job now than it was two months ago, and their view of Bremer himself was remarkably positive, with 47 percent holding a favorable view of him compared to 22 percent who held an unfavorable view.

On possible explanation for the improving view of the occupation authority was its decision in July to turn over significant powers to a 25-member Governing Council of Iraqis, the Gallup findings suggested.

While 75 percent of those polled said that the council's actions were "mostly determined by the coalition's own authorities," the interim government's performance received a favorable rating from 40 percent. Thirteen percent said it was performing poorly.

Several members of the Governing Council told Arab and Western news organizations on Monday that the staffs of the two networks would be expelled from Iraq for a month, but that decision appeared to have been modified in the last 24 hours.

When the text of the decree was issued on Tuesday, the council accused the Arab networks of promoting the return of the Baath Party in Iraq, promoting sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims and inciting attacks on the government and its members. Spokesmen for the Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya denied the allegations, saying their correspondents in Iraq sought to air the views of all Iraqis during a time of national crisis.

An informal sampling of Iraqis on the streets of Baghdad found more inclined to support the government's crackdown on the Arab channels, reflecting a popular view here that the Arab leaders supported Saddam Hussein's repressive regime for too long and failed to support his removal despite evidence of widespread human rights abuses. But some Iraqis defended the Arab networks, as Al Sahib, 33, did when he said that expelling or restricting their coverage "will give them a pretext to bark more and to cry with other Arab countries about there be no freedom of press in Iraq."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: iraq
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

1 posted on 09/25/2003 4:53:35 AM PDT by dennisw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: dennisw
I am astounded that the NYT published this information. It's a great sign that needs to be aired.
2 posted on 09/25/2003 4:55:58 AM PDT by astounded
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
In Tikrit, the 4th Infantry Division on a joint raid with the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps.
The teams work together as American "media" supports the terrorists (as has been their quisling way).


Couric, representing NBC:
"We (at NBC) all hope and pray that Saddam escaped harm, and hopefully fled to Syria."

3 posted on 09/25/2003 5:00:09 AM PDT by Diogenesis (If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
On Fox right now a recently returned reporter says He could stay in his hotel room and report one soldier killed off his laptop or go see what the other 4+ million Iraqis are doing.

He says the reporters are not doing a good job at reporting the normal,relieved Iraqis getting on with their lives,happy to be rid of Saddam(Steve Harrigan)This is not to lessen the importance of any loss of life but we need to hear the good stories,too.
4 posted on 09/25/2003 5:02:44 AM PDT by MEG33
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
Chirac's rating was 42 percent favorable to Bush's 29 percent and Blair's 20 percent.
There's nothing like profiting off the plundering and decimation of a nation to make people really love you, I guess. I have a feeling that the Ivory Coast would have a different rating of the French though.
5 posted on 09/25/2003 5:04:47 AM PDT by avg_freeper (Gunga galunga. Gunga, gunga galunga)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diogenesis
American soldier Clp. Gene Canon of Tampa Bay Florida, mans a 50 caliber machine gun as security for a fuel tanker convoy on the road from Tikrit to Sommara in Iraq, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. With an ongoing threat of highway bandits and carjacking the U.S. military supplies security for civilian transport convoys through out Iraq.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Sun Sep 21,11:15 AM ET

American soldier Clp. Gene Canon of Tampa Bay Florida, mans a 50 caliber machine gun as security for a fuel tanker convoy on the road from Tikrit to Sommara in Iraq (news - web sites), Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. With an ongoing threat of highway bandits and carjacking the U.S. military supplies security for civilian transport convoys through out Iraq.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Two American soldier from the 4th Infantry division stands guard over a suspected Saddam loyalist during an early morning raid in Tikrit, Iraq, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003. The raid was conducted after intelligence was gathered with one suspect being held for questioning. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Wed Sep 24, 9:01 PM ET

Two American soldier from the 4th Infantry division stands guard over a suspected Saddam loyalist during an early morning raid in Tikrit, Iraq (news - web sites), Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003. The raid was conducted after intelligence was gathered with one suspect being held for questioning. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Two American soldier from the 4th Infantry division stands guard over a suspected Saddam loyalist during an early morning raid in Tikrit, Iraq, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003. The raid was conducted after intelligence was gathered with one suspect being held for questioning..(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Wed Sep 24, 9:01 PM ET

Two American soldier from the 4th Infantry division stands guard over a suspected Saddam loyalist during an early morning raid in Tikrit, Iraq (news - web sites), Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003. The raid was conducted after intelligence was gathered with one suspect being held for questioning..(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

 

Actor Bruce Willis, center, wearing a pressurized flight used by U.S. Air Force U-2 pilots who fly the high-altitude spy aircraft, poses with Air Force personnel Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 at an undisclosed airbase, supporting U.S. efforts in Iraq. Willis is touring on a United Service Organizations (USO) with his band, 'The Accelerators,' to entertain American military in the region. (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, USO)
Wed Sep 24,10:17 AM ET

Actor Bruce Willis (news), center, wearing a pressurized flight used by U.S. Air Force U-2 pilots who fly the high-altitude spy aircraft, poses with Air Force personnel Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 at an undisclosed airbase, supporting U.S. efforts in Iraq (news - web sites). Willis is touring on a United Service Organizations (USO) with his band, 'The Accelerators,' to entertain American military in the region. (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, USO)

 

American Soldiers of the 4th Infantry division and the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps during an early morning raid on a village outside Tikrit, Iraq, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003. The raid was conducted after intelligence was gathered with a cache of weapons being found buried in an orchard close to houses that were targeted for the operation.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Wed Sep 24, 5:49 AM ET

American Soldiers of the 4th Infantry division and the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps during an early morning raid on a village outside Tikrit, Iraq (news - web sites), Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003. The raid was conducted after intelligence was gathered with a cache of weapons being found buried in an orchard close to houses that were targeted for the operation.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

6 posted on 09/25/2003 5:07:04 AM PDT by dennisw (G_d is at war with Amalek for all generations)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
Only eight percent of those queried said they believed their lives would be worse off as a result of the military campaign to remove Saddam and his Baath Party leadership.

7 posted on 09/25/2003 5:14:04 AM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
Great pics.
8 posted on 09/25/2003 5:14:49 AM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: astounded
I am astounded that the NYT published this information.

I'm not. On the way in to work today I spotted several pigs flying in formation.

And Uday and Qusay called me this morning to say how the temperature had dropped considerably, and they were now building a snowman.

9 posted on 09/25/2003 5:16:02 AM PDT by Coop (God bless our troops!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: dennisw; PhiKapMom; Ragtime Cowgirl; Corin Stormhands; Mudboy Slim; patton; eureka!; Pubbie; ...
Note the source. [clutching chest]
10 posted on 09/25/2003 5:18:33 AM PDT by Coop (God bless our troops!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
Despite the systemic collapse of government and civic institutions...which occurred from neglect during decades of Hussein tyranny.

There. That's better.

11 posted on 09/25/2003 5:19:53 AM PDT by Coop (God bless our troops!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: samtheman
Great pics........

Of our men at work. Our fighting men in Iraq rounding up the bad guys and getting Iraq up and running. Thanks.
12 posted on 09/25/2003 5:20:14 AM PDT by dennisw (G_d is at war with Amalek for all generations)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Coop
Were those pigs A-10 Warthogs? ;^)
13 posted on 09/25/2003 5:21:02 AM PDT by Arkie2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: IGOTMINE; JohnHuang2; kattracks
nearly two-thirds of Baghdad residents

Can you imagine what the numbers would be if Gallup bothered to poll the rest of Iraq? It boggles the mind.

14 posted on 09/25/2003 5:21:46 AM PDT by Coop (God bless our troops!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Arkie2
Were those pigs A-10 Warthogs? ;^)

Hey, I happen to be rather fond of those flying battleships. :-)

15 posted on 09/25/2003 5:24:41 AM PDT by Coop (God bless our troops!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Coop
Me too. Too bad the Air Force in its infinite wisdom has decided to ground the A-10 fleet. The Army is very unhappy with that decision.
16 posted on 09/25/2003 5:33:20 AM PDT by Arkie2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: samtheman
Hmm, I wonder if that 8% stat will be aired along with the nightly 'chaos' reports.
17 posted on 09/25/2003 5:35:24 AM PDT by Conservomax
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Coop
Lol! I don't buy the Chirac popularity. The Iraqis know who Saddam's accomplices were and who kept us from going in earlier to liberate their country. They are not fond of the UN.

A more scientifically sound poll, imho:

8 What Iraqis Really Think  [Important. First serious int'l survey of the Iraqi people] ~ Wall Street Journal via Frontpagemag.com  | 9/10/03 | Karl Zinsmeister 

18 posted on 09/25/2003 6:00:53 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("I was taught to love America." ~ Freeper 'Bullish' ~ 1960's LA public school.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Arkie2
Too bad the Air Force in its infinite wisdom has decided to ground the A-10 fleet. The Army is very unhappy with that decision

Guess the 'Hogs' weren't sexy enough for the Air Force. Let the Army have them. They'd fit right in with the helicopters, Ugly & Deadly.

19 posted on 09/25/2003 6:18:59 AM PDT by tbpiper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Diogenesis
Did you have to post a pic of that b***# this morning? Bet she abhors these reports.
20 posted on 09/25/2003 6:24:01 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (I am ashamed the dixie chicks are from Texas!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson