Attitude of Iraqis important in debate over U.S. presence

Since early 2004, there have been three major surveys conducted in Iraq to discern the attitudes of the residents of that war-torn nation.
The first two revealed a level of optimism about the future of Iraq that enabled President Bush and other believers in America's military occupation of Iraq to declare that progress was being made.
But then came the 2006 Congressional election in which American voters expressed their opposition to the U.S.-led war by giving Democrats control of the House and Senate.
Now, the latest of the surveys of Iraqis reveals the same discontent and disagreement with the Bush policy as expressed by American voters four months ago.
According to the Associated Press, the survey for ABC News, USA Today, and BBC and ARD German TV shows that the number of Iraqis who say their own life is going well has plummeted to 39 percent, from 71 percent in November 2005.
Anger
The wire service also reported that three-fourths of Iraqis say they have feelings of anger, depression and difficulty concentrating. More than half have curtailed activities like going out of their homes, going to markets or other crowded places and traveling through police checkpoints.
The survey of 2,212 Iraqis, including oversamples or additional interviews in Anbar province, the Sadr City section of Baghdad, Basra and Kirkuk, was conducted Feb. 25 to March 5.
One of the most disturbing revelations in the survey has to do with how Iraqis see their lives today, compared with the Saddam Hussein era. Only 42 percent said their lives are better today than when Saddam was in power.
And like the other two surveys, Iraqis' attitudes are influenced by every day things, such as the stagnant economy that has resulted in widespread joblessness, lack of electricity and clean water and the risks of sending their children to school.
The results of the survey -- not only the data but opinions expressed by respondents -- should be required reading for President Bush and his advisors and members of Congress from both parties.
For many decision-makers who see the war in Iraq through the lens of the U.S. military -- our fighting men and women in harm's way -- the survey puts a human face on the real victims of the conflict.
Innocent Iraqis caught in the crossfire of sectarian violence are beginning to point the finger of blame at the American military. That is something members of Congress need to be aware of as they debate the war in the context of legislation passed by the House Friday that requires combat troops to be brought home before September 2008.
The pullout would occur sooner if the Iraqi government does not meet certain requirements.
President Bush has vowed to veto the legislation and the Senate is expected to take up its own version shortly.
And while concerns over the safety of our troops, the huge sums of money being spent and the erosion of America's reputation around the world are legitimate, there is also a need for the administration and Congress to ponder this question: What does it say about our policy in Iraq when only 18 percent of Iraqis have confidence in U.S. and coalition troops?
Acceptable violence
Or, more troubling, when 51 percent now say that violence against U.S. forces is acceptable? In 2004, only 17 percent of those surveyed felt that way.
It has been argued many times in this space: The war in Iraq isn't just about military successes. It's about winning the hearts and minds of the people, and in that regard, the United States and its coalition partners seem to be failing miserably.