July 18, 2003
COALITION OF THE WANTED
Through clenched teeth, The Guardian reports:
A majority of Baghdad residents feel US and British troops should stay in Iraq for at least a year, according to the first attempt at an opinion poll.
The poll said 31% wanted troops to stay "a few years", while 25% said "about a year."
Only 13% said they should leave now, while 20% said they should go "within 12 months".
The survey also found that half thought the US-led coalition was right to invade.
Via alert reader Irene A. Meanwhile Australian troops aboard the HMAS Kanimbla have returned home to happy families. One serviceman told Network Ten news: “I’ve never felt so proud. I’d do it again.”
Posted by Tim Blair at July 18, 2003 03:46 AMYeah... we helped backload equipment and troops on to the Kanimbla here at my little base in UMEC™.
They gave us beer.
Another diplomatic success story!
Posted by: Kevin at July 18, 2003 at 07:00 AMThey should feel very proud of themselves.
I wasn't in favor of the Iraq war very much at first. When the mass graves and prison torture chambers were shown, along with first-hand stories of what the Iraqis suffered through, I was ashamed we had waited so long.
I imagine it would give one a feeling of pride having taken part in such a war. It's also not a bad idea, with the Islamonazis out to kill us, to flex the military muscle.
Posted by: Chris Josephson at July 18, 2003 at 08:06 AMThe Guardianistas just cannot help themselves...
"The You.Gov poll results were released as news emerged that a ground-to-air missile was fired at a US military plane near Baghdad airport."
"You.Gov said there was no certainty that the 798 respondents were a representative sample and that several interviews were conducted with gunfire in the background."
Posted by: AndyM at July 18, 2003 at 09:37 AM"I wrote a gazillion pieces urging war with Iraq, and never found the time to let the word Niger pass my lips. And, if it had passed, my lips would have said ‘Ny-juh’ and not ‘Nee-zhaire’"
People who say ‘Nee-zhaire’ are the same folks who used to instruct us in the pronunciation of NeeghhhaaarrAAAguaah and ThaanthaalbaaaaDORD.
Posted by: Ernie G at July 18, 2003 at 09:44 AMDon't they know they should never commission a poll unless they know they'll get the response they want?
Posted by: Tony.T at July 18, 2003 at 08:01 PMEarly in the day that the Kanimbla docked I heard a radio news bite say that a group of Iraqi's were amongst the crowd there to welcome the Aussies back, but that was the only time I heard it, was it hurriedly hidden away? or just not considered newsworthy. (I thought it spoke volumes)
Posted by: Richard at July 18, 2003 at 11:07 PMI thought it was the ABC. (yes I know, I know, I'm so ashamed, its just that with news every 15 minutes its sometimes hard not to flick over...just for a minute...)
But it could have been 6pr (Perths Southern Cross station)