"By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor (Filed: 17/07/2003)
Iraqis approve of the war that removed Saddam Hussein but remain suspicious of America and Britain, according to an unprecedented opinion poll in Baghdad.
The first western-style survey reveals mixed feelings, confusion, and frustration among Iraqis three months after the fall of Saddam's regime. It shows American and British forces still have a long way to go to win over the trust of Iraqis.
Half of the nearly 800 people questioned said they believed that war was "right", compared with 27 per cent who said it was "wrong".
But most dismiss the allies' rhetoric about liberating Iraqis and their formal casus belli, "to find and destroy weapons of mass destruction". Nearly half believe the main motive was to "secure oil supplies" and "help Israel".
Such contradictory replies appear throughout the survey. Fifty-five per cent of respondents wanted the allies to hand over power immediately or within three months, but a similar number wanted coalition troops to stay in Iraq for a year or more.
There was no agreement on how Iraq should be ruled. Only about a third wanted a western-style democracy."
-- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
Those who study history are doomed to repeat it.
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