This is a very important poll done by Zogby International, the leading
polling organization in the U.S., which gives a glimpse at the attitude
of rank-and-file soldiers in Iraq toward the war. It shows a broad
desire for an end to the war and an exit from Iraq. But this has not
yet translated into much active organizing against the war, as existed
during Vietnam, when there were 100’s of GI newspapers and
organizations, not too mention over 500,000 GI’s who disserted the military altogether and thousands sent to prison (those numbers are according to the Pentagon). But this is why the development of groups like Iraq Veterans Against the War and Military Families Speak Out is significant.
:::
:::
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-zogby/on-a-new-poll-of-us-sol_b_16497.html
On a New Poll Of U.S. Soldiers During Their Service in Iraq
READ MORE: Iraq, 2006, Saddam Hussein
In wars of America's century just past, we have sent our soldiers to
far-off fields of battle and were left to wonder about their opinions
of the life-and-death conflicts in which they were involved.
Letters home, and more recently telephone calls and emails, would give
us a peek into their states of mind.
Some who returned would regale friends and family with tales from the
front lines.
Times have now changed. A first-ever survey of U.S. troops on the
ground fighting a war overseas has revealed surprising findings, not
the least of which is that an overwhelming majority of 72% of American
troops in Iraq think the U.S. should exit the country within the next
year.
Further, a new Le Moyne College/Zogby International survey shows that
more than one in four (29%) thought the U.S. should pull its troops
immediately.
The poll, conducted in conjunction with Le Moyne College's Center for
Peace and Global Studies, also showed that another 22% of the
respondents, serving in various branches of the armed forces, said the
U.S. should leave Iraq in the next six months. One in every five troops
- 21% - said troops should be out between six and 12 months. Nearly a
quarter - 23% - said they should stay "as long as they are needed."
The troops have drawn different conclusions about fellow citizens back
home. Asked why they think some Americans favor rapid U.S. troop
withdrawal from Iraq, 37% of troops serving there said those Americans
are unpatriotic, while 20% believe people back home don't believe a
continued occupation will work. Another 16% said they believe those
favoring a quick withdrawal do so because they oppose the use of the
military in a pre-emptive war, while 15% said they do not believe those
Americans understand the need for the U.S. troops in Iraq.
At 55%, reservists serving in Iraq were most likely to see those back
home as unpatriotic for wanting a rapid withdrawal, while 45% of
Marines and 33% of members of the regular Army agreed.
The wide-ranging poll also shows that 58% of those serving in country
say the U.S. mission in Iraq is clear in their minds, while 42% said it
is either somewhat or very unclear to them, that they have no
understanding of it at all, or are unsure. Nearly nine of every 10 -
85% - said the U.S. mission is "to retaliate for Saddam's role in the
9-11 attacks," while 77% said they believe the main or a major reason
for the war was "to stop Saddam from protecting al Qaeda in Iraq."
Ninety-three percent said that removing weapons of mass destruction is
not a reason for U.S. troops being there. Instead, that initial
rationale went by the wayside and, in the minds of 68% of the troops,
the real mission became to remove Saddam Hussein.
Just 24% said that "establishing a democracy that can be a model for
the Arab World" was the main or a major reason for the war. Only small
percentages see the mission there as securing oil supplies (11%) or to
provide long-term bases for US troops in the region (6%).
More than 80% of the troops said they did not hold a negative view of
Iraqis because of continuing insurgent attacks against them. Only about
two in five see the insurgency as being comprised of discontented
Sunnis with very few non-Iraqi helpers.
On this question there appears to be some confusion among the troops,
but two in every three do not agree that if non-Iraqi terrorists could
be prevented from crossing the border into Iraq, the insurgency would
end.
To control the insurgency, a majority of respondents (53%) said the
U.S. should double both the number of troops and bombing missions, an
option absolutely no one back in Washington is considering.
Reservists were most enthusiastic about using bombing runs and a
doubling of ground troops to counter the enemy, with 70% agreeing that
would work to control the insurgency. Among regular Army respondents,
48% favored more troops and bombing, and 47% of Marines agreed.
However, 36% of Marines said they were uncertain that strategy would
work, compared to just 9% of regular Army, 6% of National Guard
respondents, and 2% of reservists who said they were not sure.
Those in Iraq on their first tour of duty were less optimistic that
more troops and bombing runs would work. While 38% of first-timers
agreed, 62% of those on their second tour and 53% in Iraq at least
three times favored more U.S. troops and firepower.
As new photos of prisoner abuse in Iraq surface, a majority of troops
serving there said they oppose harsh interrogation methods. A majority
- 55% - said it is not appropriate or standard military conduct to use
harsh and threatening methods on possible insurgent prisoners to
information of military value.
Among all respondents, 26% said they were on their first tour of duty
in Iraq, while 45% said they were on their second tour, and 29% said
they were in Iraq for a third time, or more. Three of every four were
male respondents, with 63% under the age of 30.
The survey included 944 military respondents interviewed at several
undisclosed locations throughout Iraq. The names of the specific
locations and specific personnel who conducted the survey are being
withheld for security purposes. Surveys were conducted face-to-face
using random sampling techniques. The margin of error for the survey,
conducted Jan. 18 through Feb. 14, 2006, is +/- 3.3 percentage points.
In other words, the poll is a sound, solid measurement of what is going
through the minds of our front-line warriors. It's no letter home, but
it's still good to hear from them.
polling organization in the U.S., which gives a glimpse at the attitude
of rank-and-file soldiers in Iraq toward the war. It shows a broad
desire for an end to the war and an exit from Iraq. But this has not
yet translated into much active organizing against the war, as existed
during Vietnam, when there were 100’s of GI newspapers and
organizations, not too mention over 500,000 GI’s who disserted the military altogether and thousands sent to prison (those numbers are according to the Pentagon). But this is why the development of groups like Iraq Veterans Against the War and Military Families Speak Out is significant.
:::
:::
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-zogby/on-a-new-poll-of-us-sol_b_16497.html
On a New Poll Of U.S. Soldiers During Their Service in Iraq
READ MORE: Iraq, 2006, Saddam Hussein
In wars of America's century just past, we have sent our soldiers to
far-off fields of battle and were left to wonder about their opinions
of the life-and-death conflicts in which they were involved.
Letters home, and more recently telephone calls and emails, would give
us a peek into their states of mind.
Some who returned would regale friends and family with tales from the
front lines.
Times have now changed. A first-ever survey of U.S. troops on the
ground fighting a war overseas has revealed surprising findings, not
the least of which is that an overwhelming majority of 72% of American
troops in Iraq think the U.S. should exit the country within the next
year.
Further, a new Le Moyne College/Zogby International survey shows that
more than one in four (29%) thought the U.S. should pull its troops
immediately.
The poll, conducted in conjunction with Le Moyne College's Center for
Peace and Global Studies, also showed that another 22% of the
respondents, serving in various branches of the armed forces, said the
U.S. should leave Iraq in the next six months. One in every five troops
- 21% - said troops should be out between six and 12 months. Nearly a
quarter - 23% - said they should stay "as long as they are needed."
The troops have drawn different conclusions about fellow citizens back
home. Asked why they think some Americans favor rapid U.S. troop
withdrawal from Iraq, 37% of troops serving there said those Americans
are unpatriotic, while 20% believe people back home don't believe a
continued occupation will work. Another 16% said they believe those
favoring a quick withdrawal do so because they oppose the use of the
military in a pre-emptive war, while 15% said they do not believe those
Americans understand the need for the U.S. troops in Iraq.
At 55%, reservists serving in Iraq were most likely to see those back
home as unpatriotic for wanting a rapid withdrawal, while 45% of
Marines and 33% of members of the regular Army agreed.
The wide-ranging poll also shows that 58% of those serving in country
say the U.S. mission in Iraq is clear in their minds, while 42% said it
is either somewhat or very unclear to them, that they have no
understanding of it at all, or are unsure. Nearly nine of every 10 -
85% - said the U.S. mission is "to retaliate for Saddam's role in the
9-11 attacks," while 77% said they believe the main or a major reason
for the war was "to stop Saddam from protecting al Qaeda in Iraq."
Ninety-three percent said that removing weapons of mass destruction is
not a reason for U.S. troops being there. Instead, that initial
rationale went by the wayside and, in the minds of 68% of the troops,
the real mission became to remove Saddam Hussein.
Just 24% said that "establishing a democracy that can be a model for
the Arab World" was the main or a major reason for the war. Only small
percentages see the mission there as securing oil supplies (11%) or to
provide long-term bases for US troops in the region (6%).
More than 80% of the troops said they did not hold a negative view of
Iraqis because of continuing insurgent attacks against them. Only about
two in five see the insurgency as being comprised of discontented
Sunnis with very few non-Iraqi helpers.
On this question there appears to be some confusion among the troops,
but two in every three do not agree that if non-Iraqi terrorists could
be prevented from crossing the border into Iraq, the insurgency would
end.
To control the insurgency, a majority of respondents (53%) said the
U.S. should double both the number of troops and bombing missions, an
option absolutely no one back in Washington is considering.
Reservists were most enthusiastic about using bombing runs and a
doubling of ground troops to counter the enemy, with 70% agreeing that
would work to control the insurgency. Among regular Army respondents,
48% favored more troops and bombing, and 47% of Marines agreed.
However, 36% of Marines said they were uncertain that strategy would
work, compared to just 9% of regular Army, 6% of National Guard
respondents, and 2% of reservists who said they were not sure.
Those in Iraq on their first tour of duty were less optimistic that
more troops and bombing runs would work. While 38% of first-timers
agreed, 62% of those on their second tour and 53% in Iraq at least
three times favored more U.S. troops and firepower.
As new photos of prisoner abuse in Iraq surface, a majority of troops
serving there said they oppose harsh interrogation methods. A majority
- 55% - said it is not appropriate or standard military conduct to use
harsh and threatening methods on possible insurgent prisoners to
information of military value.
Among all respondents, 26% said they were on their first tour of duty
in Iraq, while 45% said they were on their second tour, and 29% said
they were in Iraq for a third time, or more. Three of every four were
male respondents, with 63% under the age of 30.
The survey included 944 military respondents interviewed at several
undisclosed locations throughout Iraq. The names of the specific
locations and specific personnel who conducted the survey are being
withheld for security purposes. Surveys were conducted face-to-face
using random sampling techniques. The margin of error for the survey,
conducted Jan. 18 through Feb. 14, 2006, is +/- 3.3 percentage points.
In other words, the poll is a sound, solid measurement of what is going
through the minds of our front-line warriors. It's no letter home, but
it's still good to hear from them.
