"And the implication that 82% of Iraqis want foreign troops to leave yesterday is hard to believe. "
Why is that hard to believe?
I told you why - 1- the interim government hasn't requested that the coalition leave, and 2- if it were a universally desired issue it would be prominent in the December campaign and we would hear about it on the news. As far as I know it wasn't prominent in the initial election, despite a previous poster's unsubstantiated assertions.
I believe most Iraqis want both
a)coalition troops out, and
b)peace and stability
but many (at least the ones attempting to build a new civil society from the wreckage created by Saddam) realize those two may not be simultaneously achievable.
If you felt the current problems were being casued more than solved by the American and British foreign invaders, wouldn't YOU want them to leave? Wouldn't the steady, constant increase in violence lead you to that conclusion? All we're doing there now is giving the insurgents a reason to exist, thrive and multiply. If we left, Al Quieda would be the "foreigners"!
Yeah, I believe foreign presence augments what little "legitimacy" the insurgents may claim, but from what I read the average Iraqi is fed up with the violence and the majority of the violence comes from "insurgents" killing Iraqi civilians looking for jobs or trying to teach class. Someone has to fight those insurgents, and I think the average Iraqi would rather work in his shop than go out and try to kill insane insurgents that are blowing up shopkeepers.
Don't get me wrong, I think an open ended unwanted presence is of course a recipe for disaster, and I think the GB administration's handling of post invasion Iraq has been close to pathetic (the type of performance that would get any CEO or general removed from power). But leaving today (when elections are in two months) is not the best approach. It's frustrating that GB won't set a timetable or milestones for withdrawal, but what can I say? He's in charge and I'm not!
As for these surveys, it would be great to see a survey of Iraqis asking if they prefer their current situation or a situation where the coalition never invaded and Saddam remained in power. THAT was their choice. What do you think (as if you have any idea) there answer would be to that question? |
