Iraqis upbeat,
shows survey

Editor's note: Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin is an online, subscription intelligence news service from the creator of WorldNetDaily.com – a journalist who has been developing sources around the world for almost 30 years.

WASHINGTON – While there were no exit polls taken in yesterday's Iraqi election, face-to-face interviews conducted with a cross-section of nearly 2,000 citizens three weeks ago show most voters upbeat about the direction of the country and optimistic about their ability to govern themselves, reports a survey obtained by Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

The scientific survey, conducted by the International Republican Institute, showed nearly 49 percent of the Iraqi public believes the country is generally headed in the right direction. Only 39 percent believe it is generally moving in the wrong direction – and nearly 60 percent of those cite security concerns.

Kurds are far more optimistic than the rest of the population, with those in the mid-Euphrates area and in the Shiite south also upbeat. Those in Baghdad, Mosul and Kirkuk, along with other Sunni areas, are less optimistic.

According to the survey, 52 percent believe conditions will be better in six months, 59 percent believe they will be better in one year and 65 percent have expectations for improvement in five years.

The Iraqi Police and Prime Minister Ayad Allawi got high marks for effectiveness in the survey. 35 percent of the respondents said police had proven very effective, while another 40 percent said they have been somewhat effective. Allawi was called very effective by 32 percent and somewhat effective by 30 percent. President Ghazi al-Yawer, on the other hand, was perceived as very ineffective by 30 percent and somewhat ineffective by 21 percent.

Tracking polls taken in July, September, November and December show confidence in the Interim Government increasing. And many attribute higher salaries and increased economic activity since the June 28 handover of authority as major accomplishments of the new government.

There are still major concerns about security, however. Some 57 percent say the greatest failure of the Interim Government has been making Iraq safer.

Faith in God is far and away the highest value to Iraqis – with about 55 percent listing that as their first priority in life. Family follows with 22 percent.

Interestingly, when asked what the most important issues are requiring a political or government solution, terrorism was a distant seventh to issues such as unemployment, infrastructure, health care, presence of occupation troops, high prices and crime.

Iraqis also show great concern about rebuilding hospitals and improving access to education.

Most Iraqis would like to see the Iraqi Police increased in size to deal with security and many want to see Iraq's borders permanently sealed to ward off terrorism.

Only 23 percent of Iraqis say they want to create a strictly Islamic government and only 17 percent say they prefer to ensure the Islamic identity of the country. However, a surprising number seem determined to maintain Iraq's national character and identity.

Some 51 percent of Iraqis say religion and government should respect one another by not impeding on the rights, roles and responsibilities of the other. Some 42 percent says religion has a special role to play in government.

Even more than three weeks ago, 57 percent of Iraqis knew the date of their national elections, according to the poll and 78 percent had received officials materials regarding voter registration. Some 65 percent indicated they would be very likely to vote yesterday, while 17 percent said "somewhat likely."

Of those who were not likely to vote, security situation was overwhelmingly the reason – not the boycott called by terrorist factions.

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