What the Iraqis think

The BBC link to the results of a questionnaire on Iraqi views about their current political, economic and social situation. The sample size (>2,500) is quite large and appears to be reasonably well spread across the population. Some of the key results are:

- Three times as many Iraqis feel things are better (rather than worse) now than a year ago (i.e. before the war)

- Rebuilding public security is the number one task for the coming year

- More than any other country, the UAE is seen as the best model for Iraq to attempt to emulate in the future

- 4 out of 5 believe that a unified Iraq governed centrally from Baghdad should be the goal

- 9 out of 10 belive that providing job opportunities for the unemployed would be the best way to improve security

- Over half believe that US-led forces should remain until an Iraqi government is in place or until security is restored

Comments

[Abiola Lapite]

Perhaps someone ought to tell Jorge Louis Rodriguez Zapatero:

In an hour-long radio interview Wednesday morning, Spanish prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero restated his opposition on the occupation of Iraq, calling it "a fiasco," and saying it will only incite more anger.

"Fighting terrorism with bombs... with Tomahawk missiles, isn't the way to defeat terrorism," he said, defending his plan to withdraw the country's 1,300 troops.

The man is utterly deluded, and I don't see how any reasonable person can argue that the change in government in Spain has been for the better. What is one to fight Islamic terrorism with, conferences and EU memoranda?

[Frank McGahon]

Perhaps an "International Conference"?

This was the earnest suggestion of The Guardian, critiqued by Andrew Sullivan thus:

While hundreds lie dead, the most important thing is to stick on your lapel name-labels, hurry down to the nearest Marriott lobby, and have a seminar