[lbo-talk] latest poll of iraqis

[John Mage]

The business of polling Iraqis on key political questions seems absurd
to me, given the self-evident truth of the notion that most people will
tend to give the answer they think least likely to get them tortured
and/or murdered. Nonetheless, Doug is a fan of polls (even in Iraq), so
maybe he can help me out with this latest one; some excerpts:

"Poll Says Most Iraqis Want U.S. Out

   By REUTERS
Published: September 29, 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 — About three-quarters of Iraqis believe that
American forces are provoking more conflict than they are preventing in
Iraq and that they should be withdrawn within a year, according to a
poll conducted by the Program on International Policy Attitudes, a group
from the University of Maryland.

The poll of 1,150 people, conducted Sept. 1 to 4, had a margin of error
of plus or minus three percentage points. It found growing support for
attacks against American-led forces, with a majority of Iraqis now
favoring them...

Most Iraqis — 71 percent — said American soldiers should be withdrawn
within a year, but only 37 percent favored an American withdrawal in the
next six months...

The poll also found growing support for attacks on American forces, with
61 percent of the respondents saying they approved, compared with 47
percent in January...  "

So, poll aficionados, is the following correct?

With a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points (!), 24
percent of Iraqis approve of attacks on American soldiers, but do not
want them withdrawn in the next six months.

Until open season is over?

john mage