On 27 Sep 2006 23:54:02 -0500,

On 28 Sep 2006 00:05:44 GMT, Fred Stone <fstone69@earthling.com>
wrote:

http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/30289.html

[ poll data here:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/sep06/Iraq_Sep06_rpt.pdf ]

POLL: AL QAEDA LOST HEARTS AND MINDS IN IRAQ

Al Qaeda has desicively lost the Iraqi battlefield.

Overall 94 percent have an unfavorable view of al Qaeda, with 82
percent expressing a very unfavorable view. Of all organizations and
individuals assessed in this poll, it received the most negative
ratings. The Shias and Kurds show similarly intense levels of
opposition, with 95 percent and 93 percent respectively saying they have
very unfavorable views. The Sunnis are also quite negative, but with
less intensity. Seventy-seven percent express an unfavorable view, but
only 38 percent are very unfavorable. Twenty-three percent express a
favorable view (5% very).

Views of Osama bin Laden are only slightly less negative. Overall 93
percent have an unfavorable view, with 77 percent very unfavorable. Very
unfavorable views are expressed by 87 percent of Kurds and 94 percent of
Shias. Here again, the Sunnis are negative, but less unequivocally—71
percent have an unfavorable view (23% very), and 29 percent a favorable
view (3% very).

Iraqi confidence in Iraqi forces (as opposed to militias) is increasing
while its confidence in US forces is decreasing. Given US policies there
can be little doubt but that US forces have lost significant Shia
support and gained some Sunni support. I suspect increasing number of
Shia no longer believe that American forces are capable of protecting
them and with increased confidence in their government's capabilities no
longer fear the consequences of an American withdrawal.

It should be noted that Ayatolla Sistani retains his overwhelming
popularity amongst the Shia. 95% approve of him. PM Maliki is running a
strong second with 86% but al Sadr is trailing far behind with 51%. Nor
are Iraqis interested in following Iran's lead.

Asked whether Iran is having a mostly positive or negative influence
on the situation in Iraq, just 45 percent of Shias say it is having a
positive influence (negative 28%, neutral 27%), while Iran’s influence
is viewed a mostly negative by the Kurds (79%) and the Sunnis (94%).

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad does a bit better among Shias, with 64
percent having a very (28%) or somewhat (36%) favorable view. But Kurds
have a largely unfavorable view (very 43%, somewhat 34%) and the Sunnis
an exceedingly unfavorable view (very 80%, somewhat 17%).

Syria is fairing even worse:

Most Shias (68%) think Syria is having a negative influence on
Iraq’s situation, as do most Kurds (63%). Sunnis are only mildly
positive, with 41 percent having a favorable view (17% negative, 43%
neutral).

The most worrisome is the popularity of Hezbollah though luckily it is
confined to the Shia.

Hezbollah elicits highly polarized views. An overwhelming 91 percent
of Shias have a very (50%) or somewhat favorable (41%) view of
Hezbollah, while an equally large 93 percent of Kurds have a very (64%)
or somewhat (29%) unfavorable view. Sunnis are also fairly negative,
with 59 percent having a very (10%) or somewhat (49%) unfavorable view.

To sum up - Iraq is coming along better than the news project. Indeed,
more and more Iraqis believe that they will be soon ready to stand on
their own two feet. This optimistic assessment may to a large degree
reflect their disappointment in the efficacy of the American forces but,
all in all it is a positive development.

Do remember this when you read headlines accurately reporting that "most
Iraqis Want US Troops Out Within a Year and Say US Presence Provoking
More Conflict Than it is Preventing."

--
Fred Stone
aa# 1369
"When liberals’ presidential nominees consistently fail to carry Kansas,
liberals do not rush to read a book titled “What’s the Matter With
Liberals’ Nominees?'’ No, the book they turned into a best-seller is
titled “What’s the Matter With Kansas?'’ Notice a pattern here?"

Wow - Fred just admitted we were right although he made an unjustified
assumption about whether the Iraqis feel optomistic about anything.

LOL Good Fred - keep it up. Baby steps - baby steps.

OK, starting a new thread here. This startling event makes me wonder if there is
an organization to help people recover from Neoconism?

We need some ideas for the 10 steps to recovery. Constructive suggestions?