Iraqis, was the war worth it?

[Toro]

Apparently, the answer is "yes".

I have no opinion about the war, other than I sure hope the Americans pull it off.

This is encouraging.

Via the website of Prof. R.J. Rummel, some interesting figures from the Brookings Institution’s “Iraq Index” which tracks the progress of post-war reconstruction and the opinions of ordinary Iraqis. According to the latest figures (February 13, 2006) Iraqis, despite countless dispiriting setbacks, are maintain a largely positive outlook for the future of their country and, more suprising, retrospectively supportive of the invasion:

Do you think Iraq today is headed in the right direction? Overall = 64%, Kurds = 76%, Shiia = 84%, and Sunni = 6%

Thinking about any hardships you might have suffered since the U.S.-Britain invasion, do you personally think that ousting Saddam Hussein was worth it? Overall = 77%, Kurds = 91%, Shiia = 98%, and Sunni = 13%

Yup, you read it right: a full eighty percent think the war was worth it. And yes, as you might have noticed, we have something of a Sunni problem. But encouraging signs, nevertheless.

- Michael Moynihan

http://www.spectator.se/stambord/?p=1113

There are other interesting responses in the polls as well starting on page 37.

The report is dated February 23, 2006. If you click on the above link, and you don't get that report, look in the archives here.

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear Toro,

From Rummel's site...the third question the 'blogger' chose not to print...

• What is your overall support for attacks? On U.S. led forces = 47%, on Iraqi Govt. security forces = 7%, on Iraqi civilians = 1%

The inclusion of the Kurds' opinion, while important, skews the numbers. I am surprised the numbers weren't 100% on q#2, given that they tried civil war to secede from Iraq.

On the whole, though, somewhat encouraging.

[newbie]

This poll is interesting:

http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm poll

[geoffrey]

Question of the day: How do you accurately conduct a poll in a country like Iraq?

I give zero credit to any poll in favour or against the war.