WPO Poll: Iraqis WANT Timetable For US Withdrawal-FEAR US Plan Perm Stay

[kpete]

WPO Poll: Iraqi Public Wants Timetable for US Withdrawal, but Thinks US Plans Permanent Bases in Iraq
Half of Iraqis Approve of Attacks on US Forces, Including 9 Out of 10 Sunnis

Full Report
Questionnaire/Methodology

A new poll of the Iraqi public finds that a large majority of Iraqis think the US plans to maintain bases in Iraq permanently, even if the newly elected government asks the US to leave. A large majority favors setting a timeline for the withdrawal of US forces, though this majority divides over whether the timeline should be over a period of six months or two years. Nearly half of Iraqis approve of attacks on US-led forces—including nine out of 10 Sunnis. Most Iraqis believe that many aspects of their lives will improve once the US-led forces leave, but are nonetheless uncertain that Iraqi security forces are ready to stand on their own.

The poll was conducted for WorldPublicOpinion.org by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland and was fielded by KA Research Limited/D3 Systems, Inc. Polling was conducted January 2-5 with a nationwide sample of 1,150, which included an oversample of 150 Arab Sunnis (hereafter simply called Sunnis).

Asked whether “the US government plans to have permanent military bases in Iraq or to remove all its military forces once Iraq is stabilized,” 80% overall assume that the US plans to remain permanently, including 79% of Shia, 92% of Sunnis and 67% of Kurds. Only small minorities believe that the US plans “to remove all its military forces once Iraq is stabilized” (overall 18%, Shia 21%, Sunni 7%, Kurds 28%).

Iraqis of all ethnic groups also agree that the US is unlikely to take direction from the Iraqi government. Asked what they think the US would do if the new government were to ask the US to withdraw its forces within six months, 76% overall assume that the US would refuse to do so (Shia 67%, Sunni 94%, Kurds 77%).

more at:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/165.php?nid=&id=&pnt=165&lb=brme

[agio]

1. Well you can't expect

these Iraqis to understand that "freedom" means "indefinite military occupation by a foreign power." After all, they are only a fledgling democracy. /snark

[LittleClarkie]

2. The Iraqis want to cut and run!

Well, don't worry little Iraqis, we've got enough courage for the both of us :sarcasm:

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Guess the Iraqis had their fears validated today.

[Cha]

4. The Iraqis fear a

permanent stay cause they know what the bushits have done to their country and they know they have no plans to leave ever. Why would cheneny and the gang leave all that oil?

[Igel]

5. I find the Kurdish responses to the first two questions

interesting. The Sunni responses are predictable.

But 28% of the Kurds surveyed said they thought we planned on leaving; 17% thought we'd leave if asked. Likely inference: What we think is more important than what they think. (Which sort of makes sense, the way the Kurds were treated.)

Other weirdnesses: 41% of those supporting attacks on US forces don't want a short term withdrawal. Surveyors: maybe they just want to pressure the US so that we eventually leave. (Cynical: Maybe they want us to stay so they can kill us. Early withdrawal is so ... unsatisfying, like having the flock of geese take off before you bagged yours.)

Most Arabs, but not Kurds, assume without the US everything would be better in 6 months (which would be in a few weeks, given that the poll is from January '06). That's interesting given today's Pew results, where most Arabs assume that it's not corruption, lack of education, or dictates of religion that's responsible for their current state, but the West.