The results of a very interesting poll (co-sponsored by ABC, the German broadcasting network ARD, the BBC and Japan’s NHK) are available at the ABC News website and are really well worth reading. It’s a broad survey of Iraqi public opinion one year after the war.
The results (and this is a case where you really want to dig into the details and specifics, not just the headlines) contain findings that will challenge both supporters and opponents of the war.
One detail, which is not surprising really, but still notable, is the stark divergence of views held by the three different ethno-regional groupings.
For instance, 48% of Iraqis say the US was right to invade, versus 39% who say it was wrong. But the breakdown shows that 40% of Arab Iraqis say it was right while 87% of Iraqi Kurds say it was the right thing to do.
There’s a similar disparity on the related question of whether Iraq was ‘liberated rather than humiliated.’ A third of Iraqi Arabs say yes, while 82% of Kurds answered in the affirmative.
Again, not surprising given the history involved, but it’s interesting to see in concrete form nonetheless. Many other interesting details are included.
