# The Iraq media survey: What does it all mean?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [March 16, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716 "2004-03-16T22:43:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716/1 "2004-03-16T22:43:15Z")
The document can be found here:
> **[15\_03\_04\_iraqsurvey.pdf](https://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/15_03_04_iraqsurvey.pdf)**
(NB: It’s a PDF, so Acrobat Reader is required.)
The BBC article dealing with the document (where I found the survey) is here:
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle\_east/3514504.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3514504.stm)
–
Some highlights I thought were interesting
> [@](#):
>
> Q1 - Overall, how would you say things are going in your life these days: very good, quite good, quite bad, or very bad?
>
> Very good 13.4
> Quite good 56.6
> Quite bad 14.2
> Very bad 14.8
> Difficult to say 1.1
> Total 100.0
> [@](#):
>
> Q2 - Compared to a year ago, I mean before the war in Spring 2003, are things overall in your life much better now, somewhat better, about the same,
> somewhat worse or much worse?
>
> Much better now 21.9
> Somewhat better 34.6
> About the same 23.3
> Somewhat worse 12.7
> Much worse 5.9
> Difficult to say 1.6
> Total 100.0
> [@](#):
>
> Q5 - From today’s perspective and all things considered, was it absolutely right, somewhat right, somewhat wrong or absolutely wrong that US-led coalition
> forces invaded Iraq in Spring 2003?
>
> Absolutely right 19.6
> Somewhat right 28.6
> Somewhat wrong 12.9
> Absolutely wrong 26.2
> Difficult to say 12.7
> Total 100.0
> [@](#):
>
> Q10 - Considering everything, which country could serve as a model for Iraq in the coming years? If you think Iraq needs no model, please tell me so.
>
> Bahrain .4
> Egypt .7
> France 2.2
> Germany 1.8
> Iran 2.6
> Japan 4.8
> Jordan .5
> Kuwait 6.1
> Lebanon .7
> Qatar .4
> Russia .4
> Saudi Arabia 3.6
> Syria 1.3
> United Arab Emirates 21.1
> United Kingdom 2.3
> United States 6.5
> European Union .4
> Denmark .4
> Sweden .5
> Switzerland 1.7
> Other 2.2
> Iraq needs no model 23.6
> Not sure/no answer 15.9
> Total 100.0
> [@](#):
>
> Q26 - Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the presence of Coalition Forces in Iraq?
>
> Base = Respondents who are aware of the coalition forces
>
> Strongly support 13.2
> Somewhat support 26.3
> Somewhat oppose 19.6
> Strongly oppose 31.3
> Difficult to say 9.6
> Total 100.0
> [@](#):
>
> Q29 - How long do you think U.S. and other Coalition Forces should remain in Iraq?
>
> Base = Respondents who are aware of the coalition forces
>
> They should leave now 15.1
> They should remain for a few months 8.3
> They should remain for six months to a year 6.1
> They should remain for more than one year 4.3
> They should remain until security is restored 18.3
> They should remain until an Iraqi government is in place 35.8
> They should never leave 1.5
> Difficult to say 10.6
> Total 100.0
Iraqis want the troops out of Iraq, so it seems. However, they also want them to stay for a bit.
A few reactions from me. I find it interesting that the country that Iraqis want to mimic, if any at all, is the UAE. Second place, albeit by a nose, is the United States, followed by Kuwait and Japan (?). Of course, the plurality wants no model.
More people thought that the war was, all things considered, justified. Though the largest group thought that the war was “somewhat right,” the second biggest was “absolutely wrong.” I guess that, when dealing with war, nobody really thinks that war can be sort of bad.
Iraqis believe that they are better off than immediately before the war.
56% believe their lives are “quite good.”
In other news, when asked “And, if any, which one (national leader in Iraq) do you not trust at all?,” Saddam Hussein got second place as the least trusted leader, behind Mr Ahmed Chalabi. (3.1% to 10.3%)
What do y’all think?
---
### Author:  [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716/2 "2004-03-16T22:52:15Z")
[Here’s](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/GoodMorningAmerica/Iraq_anniversary_poll_040314.html) another breakdown of the survey. On this page it analyzes by ethnic group. It’s worthwhile noting the responses of Iraqi Arabs; 46% say the invasion was wrong, 48% say it humiliated Iraq, 60% say they oppose the presence of coalition forces, and 21% say attacks on those forces are “acceptable”.
---
### Author:  [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716/3 "2004-03-16T23:03:47Z")
One thing that I noticed from skimming it this afternoon is that Iraqis are some pretty tough SOBs.
Their sense of optimism is thoroughbred.
God bless 'em.
---
### Author:  [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716/4 "2004-03-16T23:11:07Z")
They are pretty solid in their preferences to have Iraqis take care of Iraq’s problems.
Kurds certainly see things differently than the Arabs.
---
### Author:  [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716/5 "2004-03-21T18:14:57Z")
Does it say anywhere if any women participated in this survey?
---
### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716/6 "2004-03-21T20:52:38Z")
there’s a BIG question in my mind–not about the results of the survey, but about the whole concept that it is possible to take an accurate survey in Iraq today.
Surveys in democratic countries are usually proven accurate (election results usually match the predictions), because of very careful scientific methods used.A tiny group of people is chosen who represent the whole country, telephone calls are made , and most people answer honestly.
But in Iraq-- does the phone system work well enough to reach a true cross-section of the population? And in a culture where having the wrong political views can get you killed , how many people answer political questions honestly to a total stranger?
Will a woman even dare to speak to an unknown male on the phone (or in person)?
Before we start analysing the numbers, lets make sure the data is accurate.
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### Author:  [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716/7 "2004-03-21T22:56:17Z")
**chappachula** , point well made. I think it also important to think about the timeline and imagine how much different the responses are today than they would have been a year ago (a year ago this survey would not even have been possible - or would have been 100% in support of Saddam). Hopefully in years to come, the citizens of Iraq will feel they can give their honest opinions without worrying what may happen to them or their families in return.
---
### Author:  [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-media-survey-what-does-it-all-mean/234716/8 "2004-03-22T04:06:20Z")
> [@Airblairxxx](#):
>
> [Here’s](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/GoodMorningAmerica/Iraq_anniversary_poll_040314.html) another breakdown of the survey. On this page it analyzes by ethnic group. It’s worthwhile noting the responses of Iraqi Arabs; 46% say the invasion was wrong, 48% say it humiliated Iraq, 60% say they oppose the presence of coalition forces, and 21% say attacks on those forces are “acceptable”.
Of course, let’s not forget that we might query the former rulers of Rhodesia regarding the change to Zimbabwe and get a similar result. The Arabs were a minority who enforced their will in a veritably Rhodesian fashion upon the majority. The problem is that they gave the majority quite a few axes to grind, and any hatchet-burying is likely to be in skulls. I doubt that there will be any sort of “reconciliation” hearings there.