Iraq: 4 years on

[dcentity2000]

How can Iraqis' confidence be restored?

Only 18% of Iraqis nationwide have confidence in US and UK forces, according to a poll carried out for BBC/ABC news, being published on Monday.

More than two thousand people were questioned right across the country less than a month ago.

Two thirds of them said reconstruction efforts in their area had been ineffective.

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Rich::

 

[richiebaseball]

MOST Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein, according to a British opinion poll published today.

The survey of more than 5,000 Iraqis found the majority optimistic despite their suffering in sectarian violence since the American-led invasion four years ago this week.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1530762.ece

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1530526.ece

Obviously they're not talking to the same people.

 

[dcentity2000]

Obviously they're not talking to the same people.

You know, I always wonder about that - I've never been asked to participate in a poll. Is it a simple case of 40% of all statistics being made up?



Rich::

 

[richiebaseball]

You know, I always wonder about that - I've never been asked to participate in a poll. Is it a simple case of 40% of all statistics being made up?

Statiscally it's probably much higher than that.

 

[Robinrs]

You know, I always wonder about that - I've never been asked to participate in a poll. Is it a simple case of 40% of all statistics being made up?



Rich::

Like my Mom always said, there are lies, then there are bigger lies...then there are STATISTICS!

Whenever I quoted a poll to her she always said "well, nobody asked ME."

 

[NELSON]

A new poll shows Iraqis are “irrationally optimistic, misguided in their support of the new government and in denial about the civil war raging in their country,” according to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“These are just a few of the devastating consequences of the Bush surge in Iraq,” said Rep. Pelosi, D-CA, “and I fear that we’re seeing only the tip of iceberg.”

The survey of 5,019 Iraqis, published today, showed that despite almost daily car bombings and sectarian tensions, 49 percent prefer the government of Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki to the more stable regime of the late President Saddam Hussein. Only 26 percent said things had been better under Mr. Hussein.

“Clearly these people are out of touch with the reality on the ground in Iraq,” said Mrs. Pelosi in an interview at her San Francisco office. “If they had read the New York Times or watched CNN, they would never draw these ridiculous conclusions.”

The poll showed that only 27 percent of Iraqis believe the country is embroiled in a civil war.

“As this poll shows, the ravages of civil war have taken their toll,” Rep. Pelosi said. “The Iraqi people are in deep denial. We need to reverse course now before things get much worse and they start thinking that their country can become a bastion of freedom and democracy in the heart of the totalitarian Arab world.”

 

[reeeoga]

A new poll shows Iraqis are “irrationally optimistic, misguided in their support of the new government and in denial about the civil war raging in their country,” according to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“These are just a few of the devastating consequences of the Bush surge in Iraq,” said Rep. Pelosi, D-CA, “and I fear that we’re seeing only the tip of iceberg.”

The survey of 5,019 Iraqis, published today, showed that despite almost daily car bombings and sectarian tensions, 49 percent prefer the government of Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki to the more stable regime of the late President Saddam Hussein. Only 26 percent said things had been better under Mr. Hussein.

“Clearly these people are out of touch with the reality on the ground in Iraq,” said Mrs. Pelosi in an interview at her San Francisco office. “If they had read the New York Times or watched CNN, they would never draw these ridiculous conclusions.”

The poll showed that only 27 percent of Iraqis believe the country is embroiled in a civil war.

“As this poll shows, the ravages of civil war have taken their toll,” Rep. Pelosi said. “The Iraqi people are in deep denial. We need to reverse course now before things get much worse and they start thinking that their country can become a bastion of freedom and democracy in the heart of the totalitarian Arab world.”

Your a bad boy!

 

[LukenDC]

I regularly participate in the BBC Have Your Say (HYS) and while I am regarded as a liberal on the DIS, I'm sure the BBC thinks of me as a hard core conservative. American definitions of liberal and conservative have little meaning outside of the USA.

I have a funny story about HYS. For those who are not familiar with the HYS forum, the messages are moderated and the BBC requests that individuals limit the number of messages that they submit for posting. Last summer, I had submitted a number of messages about global jihad. I was a bit worried that I had overdone it and was about to sign off when I read an outraegeous message from a pro-jihadist. I could not resist. I sent a comment using a female name that I invented---Sue Mathers (for the record I am a man).

The next day I am at work and my cell phone rings.

Me: Hello, this is Lucas.

English Voice: I'm calling from the BBC in London. May I speak to Sue Mathers?

Me: Uh....she's not here. May I take a message?

English voice: Are you Sue Mathers?

Me: No, she's a friend of mine. How can I help you?

English voice: Ms. Mathers made some excellent points about global jihad and we would like to have her come on to one of our programs. How I can reach her?

Me: Perhaps you should send her an e-mail

After hanging up, my mind was racing. Do I tell them that Sue Mathers is really a pseudonym used by a butch man with a Marine flattop? Should I claim that I really am Sue Mathers and, if anyone balks, tell them that the song a Boy Named Sue is really about me?

In the end, Sue sent a polite message declining the BBC's offer. I just did not have the gumption to reveal the truth after denying that I was Sue Mathers when asked point blank. I would have loved to have gone on the air with the BBC. Lesson learned.

 

[basas]

I regularly participate in the BBC Have Your Say (HYS) and while I am regarded as a liberal on the DIS, I'm sure the BBC thinks of me as a hard core conservative. American definitions of liberal and conservative have little meaning outside of the USA.

I have a funny story about HYS. For those who are not familiar with the HYS forum, the messages are moderated and the BBC requests that individuals limit the number of messages that they submit for posting. Last summer, I had submitted a number of messages about global jihad. I was a bit worried that I had overdone it and was about to sign off when I read an outraegeous message from a pro-jihadist. I could not resist. I sent a comment using a female name that I invented---Sue Mathers (for the record I am a man).

The next day I am at work and my cell phone rings.

Me: Hello, this is Lucas.

English Voice: I'm calling from the BBC in London. May I speak to Sue Mathers?

Me: Uh....she's not here. May I take a message?

English voice: Are you Sue Mathers?

Me: No, she's a friend of mine. How can I help you?

English voice: Ms. Mathers made some excellent points about global jihad and we would like to have her come on to one of our programs. How I can reach her?

Me: Perhaps you should send her an e-mail

After hanging up, my mind was racing. Do I tell them that Sue Mathers is really a pseudonym used by a butch man with a Marine flattop? Should I claim that I really am Sue Mathers and, if anyone balks, tell them that the song a Boy Named Sue is really about me?

In the end, Sue sent a polite message declining the BBC's offer. I just did not have the gumption to reveal the truth after denying that I was Sue Mathers when asked point blank. I would have loved to have gone on the air with the BBC. Lesson learned.

Wow- great story!

You know, its funny...I've sent in quite a few responses for HYS and not one of them has actually been put up. Oh well...some of the responses are downright scary!

 

[LukenDC]

Wow- great story!

You know, its funny...I've sent in quite a few responses for HYS and not one of them has actually been put up. Oh well...some of the responses are downright scary!

HYS is often a frustrating experience. They often do not print what I consider to be my best postings. I'm also disenchanted with the rampant anti-Americanism on HYS and the hypocrisy of many of the anti-American European posters.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I regularly participate in the BBC Have Your Say (HYS) and while I am regarded as a liberal on the DIS, I'm sure the BBC thinks of me as a hard core conservative. American definitions of liberal and conservative have little meaning outside of the USA.

I have a funny story about HYS. For those who are not familiar with the HYS forum, the messages are moderated and the BBC requests that individuals limit the number of messages that they submit for posting. Last summer, I had submitted a number of messages about global jihad. I was a bit worried that I had overdone it and was about to sign off when I read an outraegeous message from a pro-jihadist. I could not resist. I sent a comment using a female name that I invented---Sue Mathers (for the record I am a man).

The next day I am at work and my cell phone rings.

Me: Hello, this is Lucas.

English Voice: I'm calling from the BBC in London. May I speak to Sue Mathers?

Me: Uh....she's not here. May I take a message?

English voice: Are you Sue Mathers?

Me: No, she's a friend of mine. How can I help you?

English voice: Ms. Mathers made some excellent points about global jihad and we would like to have her come on to one of our programs. How I can reach her?

Me: Perhaps you should send her an e-mail

After hanging up, my mind was racing. Do I tell them that Sue Mathers is really a pseudonym used by a butch man with a Marine flattop? Should I claim that I really am Sue Mathers and, if anyone balks, tell them that the song a Boy Named Sue is really about me?

In the end, Sue sent a polite message declining the BBC's offer. I just did not have the gumption to reveal the truth after denying that I was Sue Mathers when asked point blank. I would have loved to have gone on the air with the BBC. Lesson learned.

That is funny!! You should have admitted it though when they asked. They obviously didn't care if you used a fake name and even suspected it. They just wanted you to share your views. That would have been cool.