Dramatic Advances Sweep Iraq, Boosting Support for Democracy

[Psephos]

Source: ABC News

Dramatic advances in public attitudes are sweeping Iraq, with declining violence, rising economic well-being and improved services lifting optimism, fueling confidence in public institutions and bolstering support for democracy.

The gains in the latest ABC News/BBC/NHK poll represent a stunning reversal of the spiral of despair caused by Iraq's sectarian violence in 2006 and 2007. The sweeping rebound, extending initial improvements first seen a year ago, marks no less than the opportunity for a new future for Iraq and its people.

While deep difficulties remain, the advances are remarkable. Eighty-four percent of Iraqis now rate security in their own area positively, nearly double its August 2007 level. Seventy-eight percent say their protection from crime is good, more than double its low. Three-quarters say they can go where they want safely – triple what it's been.

Few credit the United States, still widely unpopular given the post-invasion violence, and eight in 10 favor its withdrawal on schedule by 2011 – or sooner. But at the same time a new high, 64 percent of Iraqis, now call democracy their preferred form of government.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/story?id=7058272&page=1

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

1. Sometimes you have to step back for a better view.

What I see is a major problem looming in the future in the form of sectarian divisiveness, intolerance and violence. These are fundamentally contrary to the premises of democracy-- so these folks have some (equally fundamental) decisions to make, between the rule of narrow religious dogma and the rule of law for all (and community of all, regardless of religious convictions). They may think they want democracy now, but have no idea what it will ultimately take to get and keep it. We should be clear proof of how challenging that is.

[LynnTheDem]

2. "Few credit the United States, still widely unpopular..." That's ok, the bush regime will

credit itself, anyways.

[Doctor_J]

12. They can credit themselves for ethnic cleansing and genocide

which is really why it's a little "safer" there.

[SpiralHawk]

3. Sorry. Can't swallow this sugar-coated 'news' from Disney - ABC

Just a little too freakin blow-dry saccharine-sweet to pass the reality test, when it comes out of ABC-Disney with its track record of Happy Republicon News.

[Psephos]

5. I agree - dude must have used five Sweet'N'Lows in his coffee this morning

The poll results are worth absorbing, however.

[Submariner]

4. The Shia's and Sunni's have slaughtered each other during

their ethnic cleansing prior to the so called "surge", so that takes care of the homogeneous relationship. They murdered many of their professionals (i.e., physicians, lawyers, engineers, scientists, et al), and many of the survivors fled Iraq. We killed about a million, and there are 2 to 4 million refugees living in surrounding Arab countries.

Last I heard unemployment is about 60% in Iraq.

So what's left of the country is probably looking at democracy as a way out of the mess we made, rather than returning to their former dictator government. Good luck to them, but what a road to democracy the Bush junta made them travel.

[Alcibiades]

6. Democracy per se has never been the problem

Though I'm not surprised Disney is painting this in such Manichean terms.

Looks like this is part of Cheney's initiative to rewrite history: "Oh, look, we solved all of Iraq's problems." Of course, they are willing to blame Obama for the global financial crisis 50 days in, but not improvement in Iraq 50 days in.

Could it be that the cause of the chaos in Iraq is the occupation of Iraq, and that the chaos is ending because there's light at the end of the tunnel? Nah, it was the "surge."

[mwb970]

7. Color me skeptical.

I doubt that the fundamental sectarian issues there, which have persisted for many centuries, are now magically "all gone". They may have been papered over for now, but I fear they will resurface in the next serious crisis.

[Sagan]

8. At the end of the day...

...the U.S. created a Shia Islamic client state of Iran by toppling the secular (if brutal) Sunni Ba'athist regime. I'm sure that's not what the Bushistas want to take credit for, but the big favor they did for Iran is all on their heads.

[denverbill]

9. Well, I hope it's true personally.

Unfortunately it doesn't alter the fact that we invaded without cause, since bringing democracy to Iraq was never one of the reasons Bush argued we needed to go in there for. It also doesn't alter that fact that democratic Iraq will be as hostile or more hostile to Israel that dictatorship Iraq.

[Enrique]

10. the U.S. is unpopular "given the post-invasion violence"

I guess the invasion itself had nothing to do with it. :shrug:

[Doctor_J]

11. The All Bush Channel has no credibility

Nearly as bad as American Pravda or Fixed "News"

[grahamhgreen]

13. Iraq is NOT A DEMOCRACY - IT'S AN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC THAT WE CREATED!!! I quote:

"Article 2:

First: Islam is the official religion of the State and it is a fundamental source of legislation:

A. No law that contradicts the established provisions of Islam may be established."

This is the grand horse-hockey of it all - Bush, et al, set up Islamic republics in Afghanistan and iraq - NOT DEMOCRACIES - we screwed those people.

link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/12/AR2005101201450.html

[bemildred]

14. More proof the MSM are state propaganda outlets. nt