98% Iraqis want democracy

recent Gallup Poll

98%? Does that mean 1% are fighting back
With the war toll rising, it's just as well more aren't fighting back.

As long as there's a political will to help Iraqis get democratic perhaps the US should stay in Iraq until this is accomplished.(Yes, I have watched Bush's speech at the Whitehall Palace and no, no hecklers were allowed in).

There was some comment from Rifkind outside about Bush saying in his speech that the west was reversing it's policy in the Middle East and meanwhile the US Defence Secretary is busy in Saudi Arabia in talks with the Sheikhs.

regards

Originally posted by HS Thomas:
With the war toll rising, it's just as well more aren't fighting back.

No disrespect intended in any way to those brave coalition forces and friendly Iraqis who have lost their lives, but what's the count up to since major combat operations have stopped, ~600 or so? While each one of those lives is of the utmost significance, that's just a drop in the bucket.

As long as there's a political will to help Iraqis get democratic perhaps the US should stay in Iraq until this is accomplished.(Yes, I have watched Bush's speech at the Whitehall Palace and no, no hecklers were allowed in).
The only other alternative is withdrawing. I don't know anybody (aside from some of the anti-Bush/anti-American types who have shown little if any comprehension for such matters) who seriously believes that this is an option.

Text from the link offered by HS

Virtually without exception (98% "agree," 1% "disagree"), Baghdadis agree that the new constitution should guarantee all Iraqis the right "to express their opinion on the political, social, and economic issues of the day." No demographic group appears to view freedom of speech as anything other than the most basic of civil rights.
To a large extent this freedom is already realized, even in the absence of a formal constitutional guarantee. Seventy-five percent of Baghdad's residents told Gallup they now feel freer to express their political views in public than they did before the invasion that ousted Hussein's regime.
Similarly, the vast majority of Baghdad's residents -- nearly 9 in 10 (86%) -- agree that the country's next constitution should include a provision "allowing all Iraqi citizens to observe any religion of their choice and to practice its teachings and beliefs."
The proposed constitutional provision receiving the least popular approval is freedom of assembly -- a guarantee "allowing all Iraqi citizens to assemble or congregate for any reason or in support of any cause." Approximately two-thirds (68%) of those interviewed support such a guarantee, while 25% do not.

Interestingly, I suspect that there's more support for free speech in Baghdad than on many university campuses these days. Further proof, I guess, that we're facing an educational quagmire! [98%? -- Ed. That's what it says.]

Does that mean Iraqis are allowed to use the word "hate" more freely ?
regards

Originally posted by Jason Menard:
The only other alternative is withdrawing.

Now US cant withdraw. He has to clean up the mess. But if US thinks, it will leave ONLY when there will be total peace then I dont know what to say about this lack of practicality.
AW by not having any deadline one can think when the clean up will be accomplished.
Have you seen any project without a deadline and boundry .. if there wont be a deadline & boundry project will go forever.
Happy cleaning.

Originally posted by R K Singh:
AW by not having any deadline one can think when the clean up will be accomplished
There is a deadline, or at least a planned period of occupation/handover. Sometime next year, with troops expected to remain until 2006.

98% Iraqis want democracy
But how many Iraqis want it through US

How many want it through Saddam, or through the Turks, or through the Iranian Revolutionary Comittee?

What do the other 2% want?

I wonder how many Turks are in favor of being car-bombed? 2%?
The ones who hit the synagogues didn't even kill many Jews, if that was what they were after. They were inside and somewhat protected by the buildings. The casualties came mostly occurred to the Muslims living in the neighborhood who weren't behind cover.