As the U.S. troop “surge” took hold in March of 2008, 54 percent of Iraqis said their lives were good. That was 15 percentage points higher than in early 2007.
This year, Iraq appears even more confidently on track. According to a BBC-ABC survey taken of 2,228 Iraqis last month, 65 percent of Iraqis now describe their lives as “very good” or “quite good.”
How about that? Iraq is free, and Iraqis are happy. I wonder how that happened.
Survey question on democracy:
There can be differences between the way government is set up in a country, called the political system. From the three options I am going to read to you, which one do you think would be best for Iraq now?
Strong leader: government headed by one man for life: 14 percent.
Islamic state: where politicians rule according to religious principles: 19 percent.
Democracy: government with a chance for the leader to be replaced from time to time: 64 percent.
Refused/don’t know: 3 percent.
Among Kurds, the support for democracy is 71 percent; Shia Arabs, 62 percent; and Sunni Arabs, 65 percent. It’s interesting that Sunnis are more supportive of democracy than Shias. Of course, Shias have heard lots of theocratic propaganda from Moktada al-Sadr and Iran.
But now that 65 percent of the Sunni Arabs favor democracy, when they had been favored by Saddam’s dictatorship, what does that say about the rest of the Arab world, which is primarily Sunni? Will they soon call for freedom?
Asked how they would rate their freedom of movement, the ability to go where you wish safely, 74 percent said it is “very good” or “quite good.” And here’s how Iraqis rate other aspects of their lives:
Family’s economic situation: 60 percent good.
Local schools: 64 percent, good.
Local government: 59 percent, good.
Availability of medical care: 40 percent, good. (60 percent bad)
Supply of electricity: 37 percent, good. (62 percent bad)
Freedom to live where you wish without persecution: 43 percent, good. (56 percent bad)
Local security: 85 percent, good. (62% in 2008; 47% in 2007)
Local security: 53 percent say it improved in last 6 months.
Country’s security: 60 percent say it improved in last 6 months.
Future of Sunnis and Shiites: Reconciliation, 79 percent; separation, 17 percent.
Future of Arabs and Kurds: Reconciliation, 53 percent; separation, 43 percent.
The survey had no questions on whether Iraqis feel freer to speak their minds, or freer to publish or broadcast what they believe, even if it contradicts the national government. Apparently the BBC and ABC don’t see the importance of this kind of freedom.
Question on U.S. troop withdrawal date:
An agreement between the Iraqi and U.S. governments says all U.S. troops are to be withdrawn by 2011. Do you think U.S. forces should leave sooner than that, stay longer than that, or is this timetable about right?
Leave sooner than 2011: 46 percent.
Stay longer than 2011: 16 percent.
The timetable for withdrawal is right: 35 percent.
Refused/don’t know: 2 percent.
The Iraqi Army continues to build up to take over when U.S. combat forces leave. So unless someone does something incredibly reckless, when the Americans go, Iraq’s democracy will be on solid ground.
Life is better.
Frank Warner
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See also: U.S. Civil War and the Iraq War: Mixed opinions on liberation.
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