This poll sounds quite much like wishful thinking. Some 2 million Iraqis have fled Iraq since 2003. Obviously, those 2 million people don't think that life has improved since the end of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Who should we believe?

Matt, Tokyo, Japan

Lost in the din of the internet but maybe some can see there is no war in Iraq , there is no excuse for violence in Iraq , any fool that has read parts of a Freely Published Western Encyclopedia can see humans are just as failed as ever .
Use whatever excuse of justification you choose the fact remains Iraq and Iraqis have a great opportunity to advanced now but so many us want to hate it and kill it .
There are twice as many people in the world now as there was in 1930-whatever . If you believe all humans are equal then there are 2 times more Evil people in world now .
Good luck .

SalTomas, Earth, Earth

Initial results of the surge are encouraging. The full force of the surge is several months away and violence is down already. Tribal leaders are working with coalition forces and Iraqi forces. Queen Bee Pelosi is being attacked by her lefty constituency. I hope they stay at her house for months and drive her crazy. Democrats own defeat and care only about gaining power. They don't care about the Iraqi people or our troops. The idea of winning the war is not in their vocabulary and they are all developing severe twitches every time good news is reported. It must be difficult to wake in the morning and be a negative leftist. Seeing and reading about the Gathering of Eagles in DC is also encouraging. Finally the silent majority in the US has awakened and is confronting the lefists(I'm sure this was not reported across the pond so google it an read up). God bless our troops, The Eagles, our loyal coalition partners, and the Iraqi people.

Dixon Brown, Bend, USA/Bend

If we had the same liberal news media during WWII we probably would not be reading this poll today. The Allies would have lost, Liberals do not understand that evil exist in the world and if the free world doesn't stand up against it we doomed to fall. The news media in USA has already declared this war as lost, and continually pounds us with bad news, never anything good, just like they did in Vietnam. The shame of so many lives's lost for nothing both during the Vietnam War and after. The terrorist are not going to go away because this is not a political war but a religious war, they will follow us home. The only fair and balanced news we get in USA is FOX.

T Snyder, Charleston, USA/ West Virginia

M'kay, like Miles, I've seen the BBC news article, and the Dutch NOS news site also says that Iraqees are MORE miserable, not less.

Starling, Lancaster,

Not a Civil War

On this fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war — a new survey based on an unusually large sample of Iraqis indicates that contrary to many Western analysts — most Iraqis do not believe their country is engaged in a civil war. The poll of more than 5,000 Iraqi adults was conducted by the British market research firm Opinion Research Business and reported in our sister publication, the Times of London.

61 percent of the respondents did not think the situation qualifies as a civil war. 49 percent said life is better under the current Iraqi government. Just 26 percent preferred life under Saddam Hussein. And 64 percent want to see a united Iraq under a central national government.

Jim, NY,

How about a tiebreaker for the two polls in contention for your consideration here. On December 29th UPI cited the poll conducted by the Iraq Centre for Research and Strategic Studies that almost 90% of Iraqis felt the situation in Iraq was better before the U.S.-led invasion. A narrower sampling of the population confined to Baghdad (82 percent), Anbar and Najaf (9 percent each).

Gary Wilson, Syracuse, NY

Check out the BBC news article on polls in Iraq. The Times is quite heavily biased in this area.

Miles Carter, Edinburgh, UK

I have got a comment belong to the Iraq citizen that support U.S Iraq Operation.
" We can not separate the enemy and friend. Day bay day it's getting worse. Saddam was as Stalin but it is verified that the occupancy make the situation bad."
I think this comment explains the conditions in Irak.
Also the numbers of Iraq;
%53 of Irak is not displeased of the new Iraq Goverment
%82 of Iraq don't trust the Foreign Forces
Only %26 of Iraq is feeling themselves in safety

Kenan Cocga, Ankara, Turkey

Greg,

You are mistaken. The USA Today, ABC, BBC, and ARD poll was NOT just of people in the Baghdad area. The poll surveyed 2,200 Iraqis, of whom only 429 were residents of Baghdad.

Joost, Budapest,

True American: Do you liberals hate America?
Liberal:Yes we do.
True American: Do you hate freedom?
Liberal: Yes we do.


My point is liberals hate America and everything it stands for. Iraq is better off with the U.S there.

Proud American, Cincinnati ,

So, the Democrats and the American media are interested in bringing down the country so they can keep their power. But a USA in chaos means that nobody wins -- and, in fact, America falls just like so many states before her.

I submit that it is liberals who really love America and see the potential for even more beauty and strength from our country. It is conservatives who adopt an absolute posture -- don't talk to them about making America better! They aren't interested in better schools, better world citizenship, better military, better economic lives for everyone in our country because America is PERFECT and her efforts can never, ever be questioned! Such rigid thought and presumption are what destroyed so many nations. What makes us think we are immune? So sad.

Barbara, New York, NY, USA

I have to agree SGM. The media has completely distorted this entire war thing in order to make GWB look bad. Not that he is perfect by any means, but not the monster that the liberal media has described him to be.

If this "surge" works they will blame him for nnot doing something sooner....

John, Farmington, CT

I don't understand why everyone is so concerned with polls. We all know that the mainstream media is a mouthpiece for the libs who want to destroy Bush, the administration, and anything to do with the success of this country during the 8 years of Bush 43 regardless of the truth. I like to listen to my countrymen in arms IN Iraq, people who are THERE, and WITNESS with their eyes the success of this countries effort in Iraq on Bush's watch. The countrymen who CHOOSE to re-deploy because they love the Iraq people and being a part of the good things being done in Iraq for our fellow man. These countrymen have no politcal axe to grind when they leave their families to help the Iraqis as well as, defend our country by killing terrorist over there instead of here. We need them back when there done to start killing the domestic terrorists inside the US who are actively working for the political and actual defeat of our country in this war just for the sake of their own power in Washington.

Scott, Columbus, USA

RE: MJ-"So if you truly think about it, what the leftists, the American Dems, and most of the rest of the world think is that the Iraqis are basically animals and unable to control themselves and get along so they need a "Master" to whup them ala Saddam."

Who on the Left is saying this??? The righties want us all to believe that foreign "terrorists" are responsible for most of the attacks and resulting deaths...and not as you rightly point out, the separate Iraqi factions. We presumed that Bush would have had a plan to replace Saddam's "hand cuffs" through security or nation-building support, although those of us on the left didn't trust him to do it! No wonder we opposed the war in the first place! History cannot be re-written!

Although Opinion Research Business is a conservative Brit pollster, the results seemingly fall along Sunni/Shia lines... American righty pols have been making this claim for four years now... Wonder if the max-exodous of Sunnis will end soon?

Jim, Sacramento, CA USA

Why would this poll be any less objective than any poll conducted by any organization from anywhere? We all have our preconceived opinions which we believe are populated with facts while polling data which run counter to our opinions must be flawed. Let me point out that the same ORB that conducted this poll also did one last September. In that poll, they found "only 29 per cent of Iraqis had a favourable opinion of the Prime Minister". Do you think the poll then was accurate because it tallies more with your own perceptions? If so, then what happened to change things? Did the company change hands? Why is it now inaccurate (if, indeed, you feel the earlier one was correct)? I am very skeptical, but I am also willing to listen. The very same company found different opinions as the coalition has made progress in bringing some rule of law to the benighted region. Give peace a chance, for goodness' sake.

ekw, Healdsburg, CA

I'm wishing I could find a link to the actual poll. However, there seem to be a number of people who question the disparity between this poll and the one sponsored by ABC, USA Today, the BBC, and a German media group. In *that poll, on page 37, you will find that 35% of the poll responses come from Sunni Arabs -- who arguably are the least happy with the overthrow of Saddam, and who comprise only 15% of the population.

S. Fry, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Why don't they poll the 1 in 4 dead Iraqi family members and ask if they are better off dead? The will of the people can accomplish anthing true, but in a case of of fighting insurgent guerrilla warfare on their own land with a standing army, no country has ever won without committing genocide. It's called history, you should look it up sometime. Us liberals wouldn't have such teeth gnashing hatred of GWB if he did not kill 3200 troops, half a million Iraqi's, stop African Rx companies from making their own AIDS medicine, wire tap illegally, not provided increased funding for WHO, headstart, WIC, lose a billion dollars to Halliburton, attempt to make constitutional ammendments to prevent people from having rights, etc...etc...etc... the list goes on and on. Do you honestly think us, and by us the majority of the WORLD, disapprove of him for no reason but pure hate?

Aaron, portland, or

I think its pretty goofy that americans are mocking this poll. It seems like people here want to fail in Iraq because of there dislike for the president. Shame Shame....

Eddie Shyne, Philly, PA USA

The poll size isn't the only relevant factor to ask about in a poll: WHO was interviewed; what geographical, social, ethnic, political, etc factors were taken into consideration before beginning the poll? If the people who conducted either poll restricted their polling to one geographical area or another (ie war-torn areas versus areas that have seen relatively little of the war), restricted it to people of certain social standings only, restricted to certain groups of people (ie Iraqi's who fully support America's actions or people who are strictly against it), or if other such factors were not taken into consideration by one poll or the other (or if any were taken into consideration and purposefully used to bias the report) then there is potential for poll bias.

Also, I would disagree with the individuals who said that 2000 or 5000 are large enough to be representative to a population of 27million.

Steve, Calgary, Canada

What further proof does one need to recognize clearly both the Democrats in the US Congress and the Liberal World view are dependent on defeat in Iraq? If their Party and their philosophical movement are to remain remotely relevent then they must hope for ruin and further tragedy for Iraq and the Iraqi People. What a sad side to take. If progress continues in Iraq watch for more vehement protests by the Left, it is their way of providing encouragement to the foes of freedom. They by their desperate actions actually encourage the resistance to murder more innocent people. This alignes with their agenda.

JohnnyG, Knoxville, USA

Usman Ali of London wants the US to "openly apologise for all its injustices and crimes against Arabs and muslims..." Sure - when muslims show respect for human rights by renouncing all aspirations to sharia. It is the utmost hypocrisy for any muslim who has not renounced significant parts of the Koran - and openly rejected sharia - to lecture anyone on human rights.

Nick, Seattle, USA

Anyone can say the "war" is getting better...even though it is not. Going from a dictatorship like NK when SH was there to a total civil war...is degredation at its worst. During the entire year last year......Iraqi deaths averaged 100/day! There were no IED's before the war...b/c we are seen as occupiers...and more than anything Zionists by the Islamic nation. If i were Iran...i would be legitimately scared of an invasion....yes im being open minded about this...and so should you. It must stop...the US vs. THEM.....Christian vs. Islam...or it may very well be the end of the world as we know it....sorry for the R.E.M. reference but it is right on. The hate the USA b/c we back Israel...fund Israel and will always stick up for them....partly bc of the Bible Prophecy and its teachings but also bc you have Jews in US high positions that look out for their ancestors back home in the Holy Land. Its such a mess, i pray it works out ok.

Kyle S., Oxford, MS

Why isn't the left leaning media following this story? Could it be the only way their pals win the White House in '08 is if we lose the war.

Magic Negro, Quincy, Massachusetts

Our departure from Vietnam brought neither peace nor security. Nearly 3 million people were killed in Vietnam and Cambodia, and another 800 thousand "boat people" fled the country in rickety "boats" after the liberals brought "peace".

Only a handful of anti-war activist acknowleged the mistakes they made in urging our early withdrawal.

This same fate awaits the Iragis now that the Dems are in power. Sadly last years elections may have been a death sentence for millions of them as well. And, l fear, the massacres will go largely unreported in the US and Europe.

If today's Dem were in power in 1941 you'd be reading this is German!!!

Jon, Herndon , VA

Just like we did in Japan & Germany in WWII we need to build a base in IRAQ and be done with all the POLITICS!!

We will be fighting in the middle east or with someone in the middle east for the next 50 to 100 years unless we finally say ENOUGH!!

Otherwise those that have died, died in vane and the Iraqis will be taken over by some other totalitarian or even worse. IRAN.

Wake up AMERICA it's REALITY CHECK TIME.

DJH, St. Louis, MO

AJY, show us where you come up with the "obviously fabricated" charge. Show us who, how, and why. Show us the deception and or fallacious premises. Give us hard facts and figures that refute or discredit this poll...

Jones, Columbus, NE

dear Iraqs, we honestly wanted to help you take control of your own future, but the Libs and the like mind world stopped us from following thru, so we have to go and leave you in the lurch. All a can say now is flee or get yourself a gun and wait for better days. I know it's no much but SORRY

mark, richmond, usa

Quite taken aback by your poll. It is the opposite of our US media agenda driven polls decrying Iraq peoples feelings of hopelessness four years after the defeat of Sadam Hussein by US led coalition forces.
We Americans are said to be lacking international news and events. Maybe, just maybe I now have the answer to why.

BK, Southgate, Mi

Wow, Greg...Talk about a slanted poll - and naturally THAT's the one that gets the ink today.

Kyle, New York, New York

I tend to believe this poll because unlike the USA Today, ABC, BBC, ARD poll - this poll used a larger sample size (5,000 vs. 2,200), conducted proper interviews over the phone and screened for political biases as opposed to the ABC/BBC poll which uses highly unreliable (easily pressured) face-to-face polls, fails to disclose its poll questions fully, and does not inquire into political affiliations. Anyone who has taken a statistics course recognizes that the polling techniques used in the ORB poll as superior to the ABC/BBC poll's methodology.

chris, williamsburg, USA/VA

Wow!

Just listen to the Left shriek about the results of this poll.

At the same time the Left loudly demands their own rights and freedoms, they smugly insisting that the murderous tyranny of Saddam Hussein's regime was just right the answer for the great and proud Iraqi people.

…and then we wonder why the Arab & Persian worlds are so pissed off at Western Civilization?

Matt M, Dallas, Texas/USA

So, which poll is correct? One says things are worse now than before and theother says things are better. That's the beauty of polls. They exactly what the polster wants them to say.

What would the polls say if we asked residents of Washington D.C. or New York City if we asked what percentage of people had experienced violence of one sort or another near their homes?

Dave, Tupelo, US/MS

Mr. Orlando: This poll's sample of 5,000 is more than twice as large as the other's, which surveyed only 2,212 individuals.

Matt Tennis, Sacramento, California

Freshman geometry? Looks like somebody never made it to a college stats class. 5000 people is more than enough to have a statistically representative sample of 27 million people.

I'm sure the "freshman geometry" types are the same that buy into election polls that survey in the vicinity of 1000 people.

Timothy, Phoenix, AZ

The BBC/ABC News/USA Today poll released today has very different responses from the Iraqis it interviewed.

And I doubt that the more than two million Iraqis who have fled Iraq would agree with your conclusions.

RAS, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

Liberals (US or otherwise) will never accept the invasion has
any merits due to their teeth-gnashing hatred of George Bush and conservatives.There is only one debate; the pre-war policy of containment or the pre-emptive strike to remove Sadam any other arm-chair discussion is merely superfluous.

Jeff Roberts, Atlanta, GA , 30319

This is great news, and so telling of the progress that has been occurring since 2003. The VAST majority of the country is doing well, yet the media focuses on a few areas of prolonged conflict and violence. Yes, there is bloodshed, but it is not countrywide, and it is something that the majority of Iraqis wish to see ended.

When the will of the people is focused, they can accomplish anything. Just ask a small group of patriots from 1776...

Nik, Washington, DC,

Anyone can make a poll say anything you want it to say. None of them are any good. So ignore all of them because they are all biased and not worth the paper their printed on.

Mark, Williamsburg,VA, US

How interesting that the BBC has just published a study to the contrary, saying that an overwhelmig number of Iraqis want the occupiers to leave. Could it be that Ms. Colvins article is another example of Rupert Murdocks wishful thinking?

Stefan Schlemmer, Kaiserslautern, Germany

Only Liberals and terrorists will view this poll in a negative light?
Why is that?
Could it be they WANT the U.S. to fail? Do they WANT the Iraqi government to fail?

It's simply chilling to read the negative leftist comments here.

Steve Collins, Washington, DC, USA

I can still remember freshman geometry in high school, and learning how figures can be manipulated to show anything.

How can we believe a study of ~5,000 Iraqis when the population is about 27 Million. Yes, 27 Million!

That's 0.000185% of the population. Wake up people.

J Foster, Blacksburg, VA,

Actually, this is one of two polls making its debut today. The other one is much more negative and is getting far more widespread press coverage than this one. It's an excellent case study in media bias.

Dan F, Orlando,

Who compiled this report Walt Disney

Paul, Derry, Ireland

well, this poll polled over 5000 people, while the others onlyh 1000. So one would tend to say this is more accurate.

nic, atlanta, ga

This looks like quite a watering hole for the koolaid drinkers.

AJY, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

These poll results are preposterous and are obviously fabricated. I cannot believe the utter lack of critical thinking skills displayed by mindless supporters of Bush's war who are ready and eager to believe anything that makes them feel better about this failed war and failed president.

AJY, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

From ORB:



The opinion poll was conducted by ORB and the survey details are as follows:

•Results are based on face-to-face interviews amongst a nationally representative sample of 5,019 adults aged 18 years + throughout Iraq.
•The standard margin of error on the sample size is +1.4%
•The methodology uses multi-stage random probability sampling and covers every one of the eighteen governorates within Iraq.
•Interviews conducted 10th – 22nd February 2007.

Sounds pretty comprehensive....

Middleroader, Virginia, USA

I can relate. The targeted answer thing is used all the time against the Bush White House. My brother in law just got back from Iraq. The media is doing a real hatchet job on what is happening over there. A poll here shows that 65% see a liberal media bias and that poll when explored wasn't targeted.

SGM, Lowell, Ma. USA

Weird. The headline says "Iraqis: life is getting better", while the opening sentence says "Most Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein".

Those are quite different things. Just because it's better now than it was under Saddam, doesn't mean it's still getting better now. I understand most of the current concern is the drift towards civil war, and the way this poll is reported doesn't seem to address that.

I doubt there's much wrong with the poll, it's just the Times' inability to answer the questions most people are asking.

David, Godalming, UK

Seems that if the poll does not have the gloom and doom of US failure that most postings want, the poll is fixed or not accurate. More liberal propaganda from the left -- keep dringking the cool aid all!

Joe, Kansas City, US

You couldn't leave out the digs at our president by adding the "1 in 4 Iraqi families have had a family member killed."

Think about this nitwits:

Under Saddam, entire families were erased from the face of the earth.

Put that in your vest.

Kenny, Rockville, US - Maryland

Pete,
The USA Today, ABC, BBC, and ARD poll was of 2000 people in the Baghdad area, and currently 90% of the violence occurs in and withing 30 miles of Baghdad. Those in the middle of the fray may have a bit differnt viewpoint than those in a poll of 5000 people across the country from the Opinion Research Business poll. No political filter needed, you just need to look at the size of the poll and where it was taken. Ask people in the inner city in the US how bad crime is, vs a poll of the entire country, and you'll get very different results.

Greg W, midland, tx, usa

I approach this with the skepticism of someone who was assured there were WMD in Iraq by an institution much larger than the market research group ORB. My doubt is exacerbated by the knowledge that another marketing related PR organization in association with the Iraqi National Congress, (see:Ahmad Chalabi) provided propaganda for the run up to the current war commencing in the early/mid 1990’s.

IMO the accuracy of a poll given by a coalition of the willing country is doomed to inaccuracy due to the circumstances that exist. Anyone that is truly against the state of affairs in Iraq would be suspicious of any question that might identify them as an insurgent or insurgency supporter to the “wrong people” and would answer accordingly to keep their cover.

Gary Wilson, Syracuse, NY

Spec, Austin, TX, I'll second that!

JD in Oslo, Oslo,

Unfortunately it seems that we aren't just fighting terrorists in Iraq, but also a proxy war with Iran. I don't trust polls too much typically, but I do belive that the Iraqi people who love freedom will stand. What the United States and Britain must provide Iraq with is what America had uppon our formation, an ocean, making it hard to wage war from Europe (but fortunately the British aren't against us now). I have talked to many people who lived in Axis countries durring WW2 and they apreciate what America has done for them (even if we did bomb Cathedrals and homes). Any country that has been on the recieving end of oppression, like those in East Europe, supports what we're doing. We must never tire of doing what is right and provide an "ocean" in order for this young democracy to survive. It's my guess that with the surge of troops that we shall see a majority of American and British troops return home by the end of Bush's presidency, and the libs are going to hate that. VI Day

Joe, Albany, NY USA

This pole is encouraging. but the fina lHistory will show that the truth about the Iraq war is that it whas done to "select" the battlefield. To the select the "ground" to fight upon is one of the first tenants any commander MUST face when war is coming. Make no mistake, War was coming. Did you want to fight it here or there in the heart of the Middle East on ground already tainted by the Dictator Sadamm where terrorists could easily get to. Would you prefer we fought it on the Streets of England or America? Sounds callous to the Iraqis I know but war is ever callous and cruel to someone.

rviens, providence, USA/RI

If accurate, it is certainly good news, except for Democrats in the US and the current regime in Iran it is terrible news.

Mike Albins, Minneapolis, MN, USA

This poll is highly questionable, since all the other polls in Iraq are saying the opposite. Read pollingreport.com for more info.

It is ironic that this poll says Iraqis think things are better now than under Saddam, when the rate of violence is much worse, the infrastructure and economy are much worse, and half of them are still out of work. And a quarter of them have lost a family member due to the violence!

This poll smells funny and I trust my nose. I don't know who these "Opinion Research Business" people are, but I think they're biasing a poll to favor the pro-Iraqi neoconservatives.

I have a hunch this poll was taken of 5000 "loyal" Iraqis who live and work in the Green Zone and support the invaders and their puppet government.

Tom3, Denver, CO, Holy American Chimpire

Strange...a second poll done by USA Today, ABC, BBC, and ARD was released today and showed a view the complete opposite of this poll. Obviously one of these polls were not conducted properly. I guess the poll that you believe depends upon your political affiliation.

Pete, St. Louis,

Mike from Boulder is not thinking clearly. 1 in 4 people saying that they have had a family member murdered does not mean that 1 in 4 people have been murdered. If I was murdered, there are about 30 people who could say they had a family member murdered. Get it?

Paul, Herndon, VA

Bush and Blair would have found it difficult to invade after the Kurdish massacres, since neither of them were in power. True, they were any ally at one point, but those things change.

Children can be educated without the people having to live under a brutal, mass murdering dictator. Was Iraq safer before? To suggest such a thing is to call the people there ignorant. Unless you think ethnic cleansing, militant rule by a minority, rape rooms, political killings, and UN violations are acceptable alternatives to freedom, then criticism from outsiders of Iraqis commenting on their lives is totally lacking in validity.

Terry, Birmingham, USA

What amazes me is everyone blames Bush, America and Blair, etc. for the woes in Iraq, but the truth is that it is Iraqis killing Iraqis. This was all just under the surface, our invasion just stirred the pot and clipped the dictator handcuffs that were on the nation. So if you truly think about it, what the leftists, the American Dems, and most of the rest of the world think is that the Iraqis are basically animals and unable to control themselves and get along so they need a "Master" to whup them ala Saddam. I guess it is up to the Iraqi people to prove them wrong and show that they are civilized and can live and work together and build a foundation on just law rather then religion. If they don't take the religion out of the government--they will likely fail and the country will fall into chaos, until another dictator emerges.

MJ, Miami, FL

At a closer look, aren't all the questions in the survey asked by ORB about the state of politics and not about "better" overall? Looks like a narrow poll looking for targeted answers. Typical marketing research. Clear things up for anyone?

Gary Wilson, Syracuse, NY

It's great to see some good news out of Iraq. With any luck maby within the next year the house and senate will actually get something meaningful done. Oh wait, what am I thinking, i'm talking about elected officials.

Jeremy, Darlington, SC

I think this goes to show that the MSM has its own agenda which is different from what is good for Iraqis.

Many who were against the war want things to go badly just so they can say I told you so.

M. Fernandez, San Francisco,

I can't believe the negativity of the liberals posting here. It's truly pathetic, they want us to lose. A poll is never questioned if it supports their misguided opinion, but a positive poll out of Iraq is considered to be unreliable or a lie. Pathetic indeed.

Denis L, Valley Springs, California

Someone wrote:

"Did I read the same article as everybody else? 25% of the people murdered. 25% of the people kidnapped, and 30% of the people have fled the country."

Apparently, the person did not read the same article, since it did not say 25% were kidnapped nor did it say that 25% were killed. Those with reading comprehension will understand that it says 25% know someone who has been kidnapped or killed and 33% know someone who fled.

Andrew, Birmingham, USA

How strange that BBC News, the same day, referred to the results of an opinion poll in Iraq that revealed that everything was getting worse and that they hated the US and other securirty forces. Was it the same poll? I suppose what you find depends on what you're looking for.

Incidentally, one difference between the old and new Iraq is that they now have opinion polls. People actually care what Iraqis think.

Mike - if 25%of people have had a relative killed, and there are (say) 20 people in a family, that makes a maximum of 1.25% killed - less, in reality, because families overlap. Etcetera. That's in Baghdad, which is much worse than most parts of Iraq, It's still far, far too many deaths of course.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

I did notice that the participating Iraqi's expected security to improve AFTER the multi-national forces withdraw...

Mara Livingston, Dallas, Georgia

Read about this in yesterdays Times. Strange not a thing about it on the BBC.
Listened to the BBC news this morning and shock horror their poll outlines disaster in Iraq.

What we are seeing here is the death of the 'leftwing'. They are now so desperate for disaster in Iraq they will deny all that does'nt fit cosily into their blinkered metropolitan ideals.

Their vilification of Reagan was so self assured yet history has proven them terribly wrong. Iraq will do the same.

Where to now old friend ?

Convert to Islam and have a go as a suicide bomber out of final frustration and revenge.

Mike, London,

Look, I actually lived in the country under Sadam 1998-99 unlike all the know it alls who have posted above. I had many friends in that country Sunni and Shia, ordinary people teachers business men and interpreters, some of whom I know are now bound to be dead. Under Sadam the military police kept him informed of informants and there was of course ruthless control of his enemies, but children went to school and were well educated (a lot better than many western kids), there were no kidnappings for ransom, there were no brutal sectarian killings and there was no Al Qaieda .Westerners could walk freely anywhere in the city and were genuinely welcomed.The savagery on the scale of what we are seeing now is beyond belief and is not justified by anything that went on before. If Blair and Bush really wanted to invade for the "right "reasons it would be after the Kurdish massacre but Sadam was a "friend " then and western interests were better served doing nothing.

rob skelly, london, uk

5000 Iraqis contributed? I can only guess 5000 Iraqis living outside Iraq. How anyone can say life is better in Iraq now is incredible. Dozens of civilians being killed daily is hardly a better life. Being fearful of leaving your house or allowing your children to go to school is hardly better. Middle Class professionals leaving the country in fear of their life is hardly better. Iraq is an unbelievable mess that wont be solved by more troops or more US funding. I personally cannot see any future or any short term solution for this unfortunate country. What a mess America has created.

cormaquinho, Madrid, España

This great country fights for those who can't or won't. We always will. We will do it with or without the blessing from those who push the socialist agenda and believe in a false Utopia. They would be wise to learn that the present Jihad has been brewing since the 50's and preaches "Peace" is the solution of cowards".

Nick, Bartow, Fl

Without a more detailed account of the polling process, the reported statistics are meaningless. Assuming that all people interviewed are from different families, then according to the poll 25% of the people in Iraq have been murdered, 25% have been kidnapped, and 33% have fled the country. This means that 58% of the original Iraqi population is either dead or has left the country. Are they saying that the death toll is roughly 6.25 million people and that 8.3 million people have left the country?

Mike L, Boulder, CO, USA

The poll is biased because you don''t agree with it! Finally, the truth is out. The media and the American Democrats are the only ones who fear the truth. Oh my gosh, President Bush may have been right!! They can't let that happen. Congratulations to the Iraqi people and God bless our troops!

M. Summer, Ruston, Louisiana, USA

Those looking for more details of the poll should click here:

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

or here:

http://www.opinion.co.uk/Newsroom_details.aspx?NewsId=67

Tim B, London, UK

We are doing well in spite of our own Fifth Column of Liberal Democrats and Drive-By Media! I honestly believe that Hillary and Obama will continue the fight as Dubya has defined it (there, in Iraq, rather than here, the USA)! I wish them success. Of course, personally I would rather that Fred Thompson and John McCain carry on the fight, but that probably won't be the case...

Randolph Knipp, Orange, TX

polls must have been done inside the green zone . for sure.

nelly , london ,

There is nothing about methodology, I would like to see the specific wording of the questions and the percentage responses, for example is it a 'majority' of total respondents or only a 'majority' of those who expressed an opinion, etc etc.
I was in Iraq for two years, and the only thing believeable about this poll is that 1/3 of Baghdad residents have a relative who has fled the country and 1/4 have a relative who has been kidnapped.

Mike H, Washington, DC USA

It is amazing how :bent" people get when a poll does not fit their political perspective...un-real how they know better than the those who live in Iraq do. The Poll appears to be valid (large sample size, professionally taken, projectable)...If you do not like the results "deal with it", and maybe learn something. JEEEESH!

Tom Collins, Lexington, , Mass

To Glenn of Houston,

I am not complaining about the 1000's of servicemen and women who have given their lives in this war or previous ones. I am complaining about brave and courageous people like yourself who advocate war and are prepared to dismiss the deaths of innocent victims as a necessary evil without risking their own lives. It is easy to talk tough about war when it doesn't affect you.

btw - you all might find this interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6464277.stm

Archie, london,

I'm seeing a lot comments attacking liberals, democrats, and the media while there are many comments praising this study. But has anybody taken the time to enquire into the study? Who is ORB? What questions were asked? Who was asked? Who asked the questions? How did they ask the questions? What regions, cultures, ages, etc. are represented? How were the participants selected? These are important questions that many (including most media and liberal) studies overlook. Before you start supporting the findings of a study, ask yourself these questions. Investigate for yourself, don't take some researcher or journalist's word.

There's a lot more to a study than what one wants to find out. If one conducts a study with an answer in mind, it's no a study at all. A study needs to be focused on finding the truth, not what the researcher thinks the truth should be.

Tim R., Ann Arbor, MI/US

wow.....you wont hear this in the mainstream media

chris raymond, spartanburg, sc

God bless the brave American men and women serving their country in Afghanistan and Iraq today. And for those Democrats, who have chosen to politicise this war solely for partisan political advantage and who willingly sacrifice the lives of those brave young Americans for an empty political victory on the next election, I say - Shame, Shame, Shame on you.

Bill W., Grand Junction, Co.

Here's what I find interesting:

"One in four Iraqis has had a family member murdered...one in four has had a relative kidnapped and one in three said members of their family had fled abroad."

Yet this is better than life under Saddam. That confirms that SH was a brutal dictator but left wingers are still opposed to this liberation. Why?

Gerald, Dallas, Texas

All these leftist Bush haters are wishing for the U.S. to lose in Iraq because they think it will bring them to power. Any good news out of Iraq is a bad news for them. They can’t seem to see the terrorist coming here, to the U.S., after their liberal tender asses.

Bruce, Boston, USA

Polls consistently show the Iraqi's would like us to leave, but at the same time, if asked, the majority will say, they would like us to leave only when the Iraqi ARmy and police are capable of providing security by themselves. All of the training we have done over the last 3 years is now bearing fruit, as Iraqi units are being tested under fire, holding their ground, and in nearly all provinces, doing their own intelligence, planning teh operation, and executing it, with our help with a few embedded US advisors able to call in air strikes, etc. The main stream media never does contextual reporting, showing the overall progress and continual transistion to Iraqi leaders taking control, province by province, and taking the lead militarily.

john k, Dallas, TX

Makes you wonder, when you compare this article to this one from the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6464277.stm

Tony C. Tiller, Trondheim, Norway

Come on, folks! The 'pollsters' were a single company called "Opinion Research Business", headed by chairman Gordon Heald who 'provided research to politicians such as Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Boris Yeltsin, etc.' The Managing Director is (relative? nepotism?) Johnny Heald who was the Conservative Party's private pollster. Check it all out on "Opinion Research Business" website. ALWAYS consider the source before blindly believing anything. The USA Today poll of today which is at odds with this 'poll' at least involved 3 countries taking the poll re Iraq (US with USA Today and ABC News, Britain with the BBC, and Germany with ARD TV network). Like history, polls will show whatever the writer/polltaker was hired to do, including showing a biased picture if necessary. Do your own research.

David, Vancouver,

Good story, many who oppose this invasion and occupation (like me) would choose to ignore this information. But it is important. Equally important is the fact that whether or not Iraq and Iraqis are better off with Sadamm is irrelevant to the issue of whether it was appropriate to get involved in the fiasco, and whether the human and financial resources committed to this mission represent the best use. Nobody is safer, Americans, Iraqis, Europeans..because of Bush's boneheaded move!

K. Samsom, moretown, Vermont, USA

We don't lose wars. We just decide we did, and surrender.
Pathetic - and, while I do not concede there is a civil war in Iraq, when in hell did everyone decide civil wars can't be won? Glad Lincoln had not heard that news!

bill, brookfield, WI

Interesting poll, although not new news. This has been the case for a few years now. As I work with military people every day and receive emails on a regular basis from some of my friends posted in Iraq. Listening to them, this is not new!!! We are having great success. I'm just saddened to see what has happened to America and the press. One assumption that our founding father had was that a free press was an honest press. What happens when this is not the case, or at least a very biased press. Citizens of Iraq should know that some of us are still fighting for their freedom!! God bless America, and bless our military for their continued success despite the Democrats efforts!

darek, Dayton, OH

I have been monitoring the early news of initial success with this plan, this will eventually get through the liberal media blockade and bias with the help of the new media. The democrats and liberal wing of the dem party has so heavily invested themselves into undermining Bush into losing this war for their political viability and future that it will be very interesting to see the political meltdown as the terrorist thugs melt like the wicked-witch on the streets of Baghdad, with it will be the dems chance at the Whitehouse in '08. We will see the Dem's go BACK to pointing out how they supported the OK to commit troops 4 years ago, LOL. Go Fred Thompson go!

Mike, Pt. Townsend, Wash./USA

Most of those in the West have little or no idea of what life was like under Saddam.

Then you had people like Eason Jordon, then head of CNN's Iraq bureau, admitting that they knew of abuses but refrained from reporting them for fear of losing their press credentials under Saddam.

So it is nop surprise that there are people today in the West that do not believe the Iraqis...

Bill B, Sacramento, CA, USA

Is this survey conducted by Tony Blair and George Bush !!!!
Someone has tried to insult the ordinary Iragi's inteligence by saying life is better now. Risk of dying any moment, no jobs, no water supply, no electricity and economic development.......welcome to the land of lies and hypocricy.

Biharidama, London, UK

Did I read the same article as everybody else? 25% of the people murdered. 25% of the people kidnapped, and 30% of the people have fled the country. Wow! That doesn't sound like "life getting better." NOTE: The video blog next to the article is called "Welcome to Hell."

Bob, Dallas, Texas

How dare the people who really live there have an opinion? Don't they know that the folks that are sitting in their nice cozy homes in the USA, UK, ect, know better? Why even poll them, their input on the situation means little to those who make the policys. (tongue planted firmly in cheek...)

this poll shows hope. Liberals don't want that 4 letter word to get around. Any good card carrying liberal "war is never good" cool aid drinker will throw whatever logic they can think up at this poll in hope that it will be seen as fake.

David, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Really? It will probably never be known how the people feel, After more than 100,00 dead and the lies....I'm just overwhelmed by the pain of the peole and the lies of the media. Who believes in polls? Not even children do.We are just hated by the entire world.

e.c.r., Key Biscayne, Fl.

Invading Iraq is a true history which has no relationship with the "better life in Iraq". Every kind of saying so called "it is good for Iraq" is a shame excuse for invasion. Either the life in Iraq will be better or not, it is the future result of invasion. So we could not say the war is right no matter what the result will turn out. At least so many people were died during the war. Famliy lost members, children lost famlies, the whole country lost their people's life. That is the truth face us. This wound scared in everyone's heart. So please feel shame to use "better life" to cover the guilty of crime.

tcheng, Geelong, Australia

Many commenters seem to see this poll as vindication for the Iraq war.

So far the lives of more than 3200 soldiers lives have been lost and the the lives of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians have have been destroyed.

Meanwhile the toll continues at the rate of 80+ soldiers and 8 Billion dollars a month. At this cost, the enemies of America win every day we remain in Iraq, yet you interpret this poll without perspective of lives or dollars lost.

I hope that those of you who are young enough consider enlisting in the military instead of congratulating yourselves for your patriotism, your car magnets or blind support of an historically incompetent president.

Edoc, Madison, NJ

BTW… Saddam tortured at Abu Graib, the US tortured at Abu Graib. Saddam used fear and the killing of dissenters/innocents toward a stable Iraq and Iraqi government, so did/does the US. Saddam/Iraq had an infrastructure and the US destroyed it.

Better? IMO, It is hard to believe at best.

Gary Wilson, Syracuse, NY

Bravo! A balanced report! The truth will set you free! the truth is that all men desire to have a voice in their own government. Even those who have been characterized as incapable of such because of old hatreds that have been burning for centuries. I think that bigoted point of view is about to be debunked as more and more people in the middle east get a taste of freedom, and the idea of consensual government that must be responsive to the needs and desires of the people, and not those of Shakes or Imams. Certainly the hope of Iraqis is that coalition forces will not leave them without first properly training and equipping their army and police, and substantially degrading the capabilities of the foreign, and infighters.

Bob, Fresno, USA/CA

Wow, positive news out of Iraq! History will vindicate the war and the liberation of Iraq. One day soon, I look forward to taking my picture in front of GWB’s statue in downtown Baghdad....

God Bless the USA, the UK, and the Iraqi people!

De Oppresso Liber

Alvaro C., Houston, Texas

So it's not a quagmire?

Anderson, Atlanta, Georgia

Complaining about the Methodology? Just click the link above and read how it was conducted. This is the biggest poll conducted since the invasion. So, if you question this poll you must also question all previous polls. Sorry to spoil your day, Lefty.

Fred, San Diego,

Anyone who thought that change would happen swiftly in Iraq, or anywhere in the middle east, had unrealistic expectations. So to say that our policy in Iraq has failed, is wrong. It is too early to tell. And if your next-door neighbor was raping woman, pillaging and executing other neighbors randomly, taking your money for personal use, while you starved -how long would you let it go on? Just based on Saddam's sex crime history-he would be taken out by this woman. Who gives a rip about WMD. Historically, half the country thought Abe Lincoln was a murderous "madman" during the Civil War. He was not well-liked during his time, but history was kind to Abe Lincoln because he didn't let popular opinion sway him from doing what was right while he was in office. Many died because of his decision to go to war, but his decision was right. Doesn't matter what the nay-sayers say about Bush or the U.S. today. The middle east will adapt and prosper later and noone will remember your criticism.

Grace, Dearborn/MI, United States

This poll complicates the challenge now facing congressional Democrats like John Murtha and Nancy Pelosi: how to derail "the surge" before the public gets wind of news, seeping out of Iraq, that it might be working.

J O'Donnell, Tarrytown, NY

It is customary to tell people who carried out the poll and give them a link to it so they can check the source and the figures for themselves. Why hasn't that been done here?

Since it hasn't been done i don't know whether this poll asked skewed questions, what its methodology was - so there's no way to tell if the results show anything.

Having said that the one point to note is (if its a valid and if its being accurately reported) "More than half say security will improve after a withdrawal of multinational forces."

i.e According to this report most Iraqis think they would be safer if British and american troops left Iraq

Duncan McFarlane, Carluke, UK

No this can't be right. Don't you watch the news?

Joel, Corpus Christi,

The left will still be crying foul as we all know they hate any good news from the middle east because they would have to admit they were once again on the wrong side of hIstory

FAT CHANCE

ChicagoRay, Chicago, Illinois, USA

It's nice to see something positive about the war. Despite the obvious conflicts, the coalition forces have done amazing things, and have had repeated success in most areas. I'm definitely not a supporter of the war itself, but absolutely supportive of the troops. And with news like this we see that the sacrifices they're making aren't in vain. It's a bit weird, however, to notice that I haven't seen this story on a single US news site.

Jordan, New Paltz, NY

I work in Iraq as a contractor. I have a daily contact with many Iraqi nationals and they all want the same things; to live in freedom and to live in peace. Despite what the news media is saying ie Lou Dobs and CNN and the politicians Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha....things are getting better as each day passes and the Iraqi people are very thankful for what we are doing for them now. It's finally nice to see this in an opion poll. Too bad it won't make hedlines in the mainstream media.

Steve, AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq

Unfirtunately this story will NEVER see the light of day in the US "drive-by-media" as it does not correspond with their version of the truth. Good news ain't news anyway.

Grant, Scarsdale , NY

I would certainly like to know more about the methodology used by the poller. Were the 5000 spread throughout Iraq or is this representative of a region. The ethnic and religious affiliations of those polled would be of interest as well.

As Ms. Beckett noted the picture is very complex indeed, without further details the best that can be inferred from the poll, as far as a picture goes is a sketchy as opposed to photographic in quality.

Thurman Zare, Bonney Lake, Washington USA

I believe the Iraqis more than the liberals of this country. I agree with the Iraqis that it is improving in Iraq. The liberals of this country have always been doom and gloom pessimists for as long as I can remember. Theirs lives must be miserable. I'm 75 years old.

Philip Saenz, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

"ORB is renowned for manipulating data to suit a cause."
You have a link for that Charles?

Everyone is quick to deny the results of a poll if they don't match their perceptions. I spent a year in Iraq and I can attest the Iraqi people are happier with Saddam gone.

Regards,

Keith, Dublin, USA/CA

This article starts with the words "MOST Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein". This ignores the third option presented to the respondents: both are as bad as each other.

In fact, 49% said that life was better now, not MOST, and if the Kurds are ignored that number drops.

Paul Jobling, Reading, UK

Well, at last, we see shades of truth being reported in the main stream media. As an American service member who has served in Iraq (Fallujah, Al Asad, Abu Ghraib), I can tell you first hand that the sentiment found in your poll is the sentiment of the Iraqis that I had contact with when I was "over there." There is no civil war.......that is nothing more than a creation of the press to make President Bush look as badly as possible. When this is all over, Bush and Tony Blair will receive the same honor as Roosevelt and Churchill have from WWII and Reagan and Thatcher from the Cold War.

John, St. Helena Island, South Carolina

Why doesn't this article cite the percentage of Iraqi's that feel that life is better now than under Hussein? "Most" is rediculous substitute since they give numbers for the answeres to other questions. The question of whether life is better or not is by far the most important one.

Brendan, Philadelphia,

Yea, I'm watching a CNN report that paints a very grim picture. The reporter is in the car and appear frightened. There are Iraqi people, women and children walking about not so petrified. Perhaps CNN should hire actors instead of reporters to sell their stories.

Matt Certain, Woolongong, Australia

"One in four Iraqis has had a family member murdered ... In Baghdad, ... one in four has had a relative kidnapped and one in three said members of their family had fled abroad."

How can anyone read this and somehow give it a positive spin? Are things "better" now that ONLY one in four has had a family member murdered?

No one claims that things were great under Saddam. Our terrible lack of intelligent planning before and during the occupation led directly to the current problems. No amount of spin can change that fact.

Chuck Lantz, San Francisco, California, USA

As we all know, pollsters ask questions in ways to elicit responses they want . That goes for both sides of the equation. So, good for the Iraqis, they feel better off because we went in there. Where's the poll that asks Americans if we are better off because we went into Iraq, fomented ardent anti-Americanism, put us into devastating death, killed over 3,000 of our troops, who knows how many contractors, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, with 1/4 of the troops coming home with some sort of brain injury that will likely receive less than adequate care from the de-funded VA. Gee, great news that life is better in Iraq. Thrilled to hear it.

Pam, Westlake Village, CA

The Iraqis owe the U.S. a huge debt of gratitude, as President Bush says.

Bill Byce, Kansas City, mo

The surge must be working. The media is out polling Iraqi citizens outside their hotels in the Green Zone?

Mr. Beamish, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Incredible!!

Jonathan Gaspard, Keller, Texas

Did the poll include those two million Iraqis who have fled to Syria and Jordan?

John Rennie, Beare Green, Surrey

Bad news for the Democrats!!

Bob, Vancouver, WA

Gimme a break.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

Freedom is not overrated.

Mark Sethre, San Jose, California/USA

From the beginning of the war, Iraqis have been positive about the future. You would never know it by reading the liberal news. Liberals have invested in a USA loss to teach Bush a lesson. Liberals want us to get out of Iraq before all the news gets positive. I have never heard a liberal wish or pray (God forbid) for victory.

Bob Koch, Hughesville, Pa

Saddam Husseins government has been removed and obliterated. Mission Accomplished. Now we are involved in a cleanup operation. I want everyone to find out for yourselves how many soldiers were killed by radical factions after the supposed end of WWII. Not only in Germany but in The Pacific theater as well. I think you will be surprised at the numbers. More I think than we have lost here. The "werewolves" in Germany were hard to hunt down. Think about it. I'll bet you never see a story in the press running a comparison. NEVER!

Ken Weaver, Knoxville, Tennessee / USA

This poll does not correspond with my worldview so it must be wrong. Maybe it was funded by Big Oil. Anyways, David from Philadelphia says it is wrong and he knows a lot more about Iraq than the people that live there.

Fred, San Diego,

Drive-by Media has absolutely no use for these findings,preparing for "warming" demonstrations. Damn Bush!!!

gman, pinehurst, usa, nc

James, so what you are saying is that you know more living in Boston than the Iraqis surveyed who have actually lived there all of their lives. I will rhetorically wager that you have neither been to nor ever plan to visit Iraq. Take an objective look at the entire situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, not just the "pictures comming (sp) out of Iraq and Afghanistan" from news outlets trying to attract viewers and advertising. No matter what your view of the Iraq war is, the stories from the Iraqis themselves are the ones that we should all pay the most attention to in order to avoid political slants like you obviously have. Had the report shown that the Iraqis were far more miserable under the present leadership and conditions than under Saddam Hussein, I will rhetorically wager again that you would loudly and prominently tout that same report as absolute proof that your point of view is correct. Try a heavy dose of objectivity.

Brian, Birmingham,

One might reasonably wonder why this poll so starkly contradicts the messages conveyed daily by the American main-stream "news" media. Perhaps it is a dishonest poll, or perhaps it illustrates the pervasive activism, bias and defeatist agenda pervading the American "news" media. I believe the latter. Our "news" media are trying to promote a repeat of our shameful Vietnam withdrawal and abandonment of our wartime allies - America's moral low point!

Chase, Williamsburg, USA?Virginia

These leatest results on Iraqi views on the war should have been clear to any non-emotionally driven, thinking person after the million plus Iraqi voters purple finger poll taken years ago. The one Iraqi woman voter interviewed stated it better than I before the US Demediacratic party decided it in their best interest not to interview any further Iraqi voters; "Everyone that doesn't like what America and President Bush has done for Iraq can all go to hell."

Hugh, Raleigh, NC/USA

Important questions I hope will be asked by thoughtful reporters:
1) Where do the 5000 people sampled live? If they are from regions throughout Iraq this is very interesting, but if they were more from the southern provinces this is what you might expect. Margaret Beckett's quote implies that the latter may be the case.
2) How do you explain the somewhat contradictory result that most in this poll feel that, on one hand, the military will disarm the militias, but on the other, they believe security will get better if forces leave Iraq?
3) Were respondents asked any other questions about the violence in Iraq? Were they asked if they believe there is sectarian violence? Otherwise the question about civil war might only be a matter of semantics rather than pointing to progress towards peace.
This poll's interesting, but we need to know more about it to better understand the Iraq situation.

John, Hartland, Michigan/USA

It's hardly suprising that some in the West (particularly Democrats) doubt the poll results, given we are fed an endless diet of 'sensational' car bomb explosions and little else by the media.

However, this is not the first poll to come up with similar results, the UN polls show about the same. The fact is about 97% of Iraqis don't support Al Qaeda or foreign terrorists, see them as ignorant, murderous takfiris trying to impose an alien theocratic system. More worrying is the residual levels of support for the Baathist insurgents and Mehdi Army among Sunni and Shiite minorities.

Still, the Iraqis don't see it as a civil war, because it isn't yet, any more than Northern Ireland was, while the Coalition troops are pulling in large numbers of insurgents and damping down the violence in Baghdad. Definite progress and the poll bears that out.

royc, London,

From the first sentence in the third graph: "...says the poll by Opinion Research Business."

Any more dumb questions?
Funny how no one questions opinion polls bashing oiur President, but they question anything positive coming out of Iraq. At least they can't lie and say the Bush administration commisioned this poll.

MIke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The article is clear that what America is doing is right , but you read comments about the article and the hate America crowd refuses to beleif it. What do the people thing would happen if America just left?

Jack bolick, GREENSBORO, USA

The George W. Bush hating press has trashed our involvement in this war since it's beginning. I saw myself start to ask myself if maybe this war was the wrong move. I wonder if the left at any time asked themselves if this was the right thing to do. Just maybe, George W. Bush has been right about this war, and the need to get rid of Saddam.

Tomas, Dover, NJ

Surrenderist isn't a word.

Josh, New Hampshire, USA

Things are getting better.
So much better all the time.
(Can't get much worse.)
Got to believe things are getting better.
So much better all the time . . . .

imp, Redmond, USA/WA

"Opinion is Not Tangible" just like your own. Who but the Iraqi people should know what the situation really is like. The sensationalist left and negative American and British press simply will not publish anything positive because they know it will not sell newspapers...despite many favorable steps toward Iraqi freedom, as this poll indicates.

Brian C, Middletown, CT, USA

The Times report is skewed but that's not the fault of the pollster. Jonah Goldberg of NRO deserves credit for reporting it more completely.

"only 26% of the country preferred life under the previous regime of Saddam Hussein, with 49% preferring life under the current political regime of Noori al-Maliki. As one may expect, it is the Sunnis who are most likely to back the previous regime (51%) with the Shias (66%) preferring the current administration. " In other words, a deep split between Sunnis and Shias.

Furthermore, "Regionally, 43% of those in the Shia dominated South of the country claim “Iraq will never get as far as civil war”. This figure in the Sunni dominated north plummets to 5% where most (42%) feel the country is already in a state of civil war."

And of course, the report that both Sunnis and Shias (in contrast to Kurds) want a strong central government rather than a weak federation is not news --- both want it and both think they should run it.

SJ, Baltimore, MD

Funny, libs believe an internet poll on cnn.com proves everyone hates Bush, or a "study" that shoes 600,000 iraqis died, but they suddenly get concerned about sampling and methodology when a poll shows up that isn't in-line with their views.

Jason Malcolm, III, NYC, NY

Over 800 Americans were killed last year in the war zone of Iraq. Over 400 Americans were killed on the Democratic controlled streets of Philadelphia.

Phil, Philadelphia,

Interesting questions on the poll methodology. Are you asking the same questions of the usual anti-war media's polls? Or is it because this one isn't just parrotting them.

Ken Johnson, Citrus Heights, California/USA

What's good for America is bad for the dimicrats.

Grey Caravel, Montgomery, Alabama 3PM CT

Careful all those who say this poll is bias, from now on your mail might be read and you followed as you are now the enemy of the state.

Freedom of speech is only for the privileged few and if you dare question the establishment then you truly are a ‘Muslim agent’ or as it were before a commi.

Which makes me wonder who the next target will be, perhaps the Evangelists.

James, Lexington, Boston

The poll states 1 in four families in Iraq had a family member murdered. This does not indicate when the atrocities were committed. With 300K plus bodies located in mass graves what is the source of surprise by folks who still condemn liberating forces even when the liberated acknowledge there is hope despite opposing influences to use a polite term regarding those who insist on making Iraq a flaming hellhole. This is in part the fault of allied forces in the region. If anything, the occupiers are the insurgents because it is now abundantly to all but the lunatic fringe that no one wants THEM there including Iraqis. The chlorine gas is just another indication they are desparate and running out of ways to inflict harm. The lastest clampdown will bring the insurgent hoedown to a slowdown and eventually to a crawl when we can exit with a victory. Leaving a real regime freely elected and recognized by all peaceloving sensible folks.

George Falero , New York, USA/NY

I believe that the poll is valid. But unfortunately democrats and the press will never support it. They can not, it does not fit their agenda.
Why listen to the people there? The libs want defeat and will settle for nothing less. The peole of iraq were asked....do you believe there is a civil war. The majority of them replied "NO". I will bet that within a week I will see in the main stream media...."Civil war continues in Iraq." From their desks in the United States they will conclude, in opposition to the people living there, that a civil war exists.
Sad, the servicemen fighting the war believe we are winning, the majority of the citizens of Iraq believe we are winning...but, we would never know it here.
No poll, no truth, no statement from people in Iraq, no information, regardless of the source will convince democrats with a political agenda that WE ARE WINNING.

Roy Burns, Reseda, CA

Story fails to mention that all the Iraqis polled actually live in the US.

George Bush, Washington DC,

Its about time that someone in the mainstream media started reporting the truth. People are moving back to their homes, businesses are re-opening, and children are going back to school. If you want to know whats going on in Iraq, check out the website called Iraq The Model. Brothers who live in Bagdad...and they tell you what they see and hear in the streets. The surge is working, but no one in the US wants to hear that. Heaven forbid that this might be a winnable situation! Thank goodness for the men and women in the military who do their jobs regardless of polls and biased reporting.

Ginger, Lexington, KY

Today, BBC's website has a poll showing that Iraqis are feeling pessimistic, which seems conflicts with the poll here. Drudge chose to show this more upbeat poll. These polls are purely for western consumption and serve to make us feel better about a morally indefensible war. Does the one in four Iraqi with a murdered family member really care?

Peyman, Dallas, USA

I guess Jasno from Seattle doesnt know how to read. "More than half say security will improve after a withdrawal of multinational forces." How can that be bias? Iraqiis themselves want the forces out of THEIR country. So get out!

Amir, New York, NY

Under Saddam, people were murdered by the state in private, and their families never knew the fates of their loved ones. Under the current situation, the violence is public and thus people know who they are fighting against and have finality in the sad events.

As morbid as it is, I would argue for the latter because it inspires people to work to curb the violence rather than feeling overwhelmed by a large organized despotism.

When you take the number of people who died due to Saddam and divide them out over the years he was in power, you'll find that after the US invasion the number of "additional deaths" is actually similar or a little lower. That the deaths are more public is emotionally harder, but does much more to bring attention to the problem so that it may be fixed someday.

Grant H, Austin, TX

What is this? The DriveBy Media giving us good news about Iraq? After years of skewed reporting?

Cameron Reddy, Ann Arbor, MI

You liberals who want us to lose, support politicians who voted for the war but now are turning their backs on our troops as the drive-by media won't do stories on this. It's convenient to switch sides when things don't go exactly as planned. By the way G in Sydney, there is no draft, these brave troops from both our countries have chosen to fight for the Iraqis freedom and take out terrorists for us. You libs are such hypocrites. Wake up and quit watching CNN all the time.

Joe , Green Bay, WI

Here's the truth. Most people replying to this article don't read your publication - they read DrudgeReport. What does it mean? Most of the responders are right wingers.

John, Antioch,

What happened to my post?

Anyway: quite different from what I hear from most other sources.

So Great! The 'coalition' forces can go home, and I can go to Bagdad for my holliday!

Harry, Amstenrade ,

This doesn't seem even remotely plausible. Most interviews conducted by the 'balanced media' (if there was such a thing) appear to conclude that life in Iraq has spiralled downhill since the US led invasion.

Only yesterday we heard about the chlorine dirty bomb attack on a crowded street. Daily we hear of massive casualties inflicted by suicide bombers, unnacceptable losses to UK and US forces, and not forgetting that most of the casuaities in Iraq have been civilian. Was life really better under Saddam?

Dan, Liverpool, UK

I am amazed at the ignorance of the Iraq's. Surely they must realize how much worse off they are now than under the benevolent and enlightened leadership of Saddam and his two wonderful, caring sons. How can they not see what is so plain to the BBC, the Guardian, The New York Times, and Washington Post? I recommend a surge of reporters and editors from those esteemed journals or truth and the news to being an Iraqi re-education process immediately. We must save them from the delusion that things are better now. After all, we are repeatedly told that Bush and Blair, and of course America and Britain, are the world's evil and can do no good. So, which member of the fourth estate will be the first to go? Volunteers? How about a draft?

Jim Dixey, Bryan, Texas, USA

Notice how everybody thrilled about this news doesn't bother to mention the 1 in 4 who knows somebody who was murdered and the 1 in 3 who knows somebody who has fled the optimistic Iraqi paradise.

If that happened in the U.S. it would be the most catastrophic disaster to ever happen in the history of mankind but since worthless Iraqis are affected it's good enough for them. Subhumans apparently get a lower standard than precious Americans.

Bob, Portland,

The US and Great Britain are doing a great job of improving life for multi-millions of our fellow human beings who happen to be living in Iraq and Afghanistan. To Archie of London in his post just ahead of this one. Hundreds of thousand of YOUR fellow countrymen of a previous generation were gladly willing to give up THEIR lives for your freedom. Why complain about the ones of thousands who have voluntarily given their lives for your fellow human beings who happen to be living in Irag instead of London? You are selfish with their lives where they are not.

Glenn, Houston, USA/Texas

Don:

Re: you saying the poll was "purportedly taken ONLY IN IRAQ'S FOUR SOUTHERN PROVINCES"

Proof of that comment, please? Or, like, any reference whatsoever? Thanks.

Man. Seeing you guys just refuse to believe any remotely positive news was funny at first. Now it's just pathetic, bordering on pathological. Get a grip, people.

Dave Schroeder, Madison, WI, USA

Everything is all-right then?
Amazing news, and quite different from what I have heard before.

Well, the 'coalition' can pull out then? Or not?
And I can book my holliday?

Harry, Amstenrade ,

The full article says: "Yet 49% of those questioned preferred life under Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, to living under Saddam. Only 26% said things had been better in Saddam’s era, while 16% said the two leaders were as bad as each other and the rest did not know or refused to answer."

Hence 49% of people say the government (not life) is better. 42% say it is as bad or worse. 9% are undecided or too scared to answer.

Does this sound like a stunning success?

Ab Sinthe, Boston, MA

Let's face it. Liberals HATE good news. If it's good news about the Iraq situation or that Global warming may not be as bad as predicted or possibly not caused by we humans...they hate it. They desperaely want to be the saviors on white horses riding in the save us poor miserable positive-thinking wretches by telling us the world is going end but they will save us, if we'll just listen. I suggest that Garrison GO to Iraq and do hsi own poll. Better stillm save them!

Alex, Niagara Falls, Canada

What is really disturbing is the fact as seen from all responders how both sides view the article: if you're pro Iragi war, it is great news that is seldom heard from major news media; if you're on the opposite side, it is bad polling techniques and pro-war spin. We receive information and interpret it only in the way we want the truth to be, and it simply reflects the unchanging mindset of both sides. It is regrettable that the majority of us simply are uncertain that we can truly count on knowing that a media source is actually giving us the facts free from the author's personal spin. When do facts not represent the real racts: when they are screened to only represent an author's views.

We can not think that "only time will tell" because it should be clear to anyone with sufficient intellect how media coverage can leverage their opinion into the outcome of any major event.

W. Geer, Clemson, South Carolina

I guess I just have a hard time envisioning a pollster either going door-to-door (certainly not in Baghdad they wouldn't) or phoning people at random in a country whose phone book must be unbelievably out-of-date and totally inaccurate now. Yes, for those Iraqis left in their country who suffered under the Bathist party, namely Shiites, it holds the promiseof being much better but keep in mind that the majority of the educated middle class are now refugees in other countries, so the majority left in the country are the lower middle class and the lower class. I would like to hear just how they took this poll as it is next to impossible for anyone to move around freely in Baghdad, therefore I assume that this poll was nowhere near the capital city and was more of a rural representation.

David, Canada,

The March 2007 survey by Opinion Research Business 'Public Attitudes in Iraq - Four Years On' reports, on p.34 that only 49% of Iraqis 'believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein'. (See: http://www.opinion.co.uk/Documents/FINALTables.pdf) As a mathematician will tell you, that is not even half, let alone 'most'. The Times should be deeply ashamed of misleading the public in this manner.

Andreas Mogensen, Cambridge,

I can't believe how negative you people are...One story of some what good news and all the negative comments. I don't agree with the war but I am not going to rip apart some good that has become of it

steve, New York, New York

This is good news, plain and simple, and it's fun to watch the left try and grapple with it. So far I haven't seen any of the major networks pick this story up. They're all so biased they have no idea what to do with stuff like this.

Jason, Seattle,

I've talked with Marines who have come back from there. They tell me the news media does not present a true picture. GMA had a program a while back where a soldier asked the reporter why the news was not showing the true picture of what they were doing. Try doing some research yourself and see what you find

Marv Nelson, Mpls, USA

Like John Lennon said - "Just give peace a chance"

Sounds good to me....

KEn, Brisbane, Australia

The most significant finding of this poll is "More than half say security will improve after a withdrawal of multinational forces."

So like every other poll of Iraqis it shows the majority of Iraqis want British and American troops to leave Iraq - and will feel safer when they do.

Duncan McFarlane, Carluke, UK

The article says - "More than half say security will improve after a withdrawal of multinational forces. "

What is the argument for staying again? More importantly, why isn't the headline - IRAQI'S SAY LIFE WILL BE BETTER WHEN U.S. IS OUT!

Oh, I know why - same reason no one reported the hundreds of people arrested at White House yesterday.
News is propoganda, not the truth. When the truth doesn't fit the propoganda, bury it.

Jason Smith, Girdwood, Alaska

This bears repeating: the poll was purportedly taken ONLY IN IRAQ'S FOUR SOUTHERN PROVINCES, where the war has not really been nearly the factor it has in much of the rest of Iraq. Too bad this hasn't been made clear by the Times or the pollster, Opinon