Here’s something I’ll bet you never expected, given the way the big media covers post war Iraq. One year after American and British troops ousted Saddam Hussein, a new poll reveals that a majority of Iraqis think life is now better for them.
The survey by Oxford Research International is the largest of its kind since the war ended.
Asked how things are going in their lives, seven in 10 Iraqis said their situation was very good or quite good. Only 15 percent said things are very bad. Looking ahead, 71 percent said they expected conditions in their lives to be much better or somewhat better a year from now.
Strangely, the survey also revealed many have little faith in the occupying forces and the U.S.-lead administration in Baghdad. Nearly one in five say attacks on foreign soldiers in Iraq are justified.
Still. Even with the ambivalence, the survey is a pleasant surprise. If Iraqis can begin running their own affairs well after the planned June 30 handover of some powers, the average Iraqi is likely to be even more pleased with the American and British efforts.
I’m Cal Thomas in Washington.
