Many Iraqis want coalition forces to stay

[thedrifter]

June 25, 2003

Poll: Many Iraqis want coalition forces to stay

Associated Press


BAGHDAD, Iraq ? More than half the Iraqis responding to a recent poll said they want U.S.-led coalition forces to remain in Baghdad, but many also said the coalition is doing a poor job in restoring security.
In the first comprehensive poll released since the U.S.-led war on Iraq, 51.6% of those polled said they wanted the Americans stay in Iraq until a permanent government is established and about 25% said they wanted the coalition to stay until an interim government was formed.

Only 17.2% said they wanted coalition troops leave the country immediately.

The Iraq Center for Strategic Research and Studies, an independent think tank, conducted the poll on more than 1,100 people from various social strata, according to the al-Sabah newspaper Wednesday.

The poll began in early June and ended last week.

The results also showed 59% of the pollees believe the coalition has been doing a poor job in ensuring security and stability in the country. Only 6% said the coalition was doing a good job, while about 35% were undecided.

Asked why the United States attacked Iraq, 59% of those polled said the U.S. was in Iraq to achieve its own interests. Only 6% said U.S. troops were in Iraq to protect the interests of the Iraqi people.

About 35% said the Americans were in Iraq to protect the interests of both Iraqis and Americans.

The results also showed about 85% of the Iraqis polled believe current Iraqi political parties do not ?express their views and aspirations? of the people and the majority want a ?depoliticized? technocratic government that is not influenced by the coalition.




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Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.


Sempers,

Roger