And regarding the poll you cited.

"Just over three-quarters of Iraqis — 77 percent — say they personally never have had any encounter with coalition forces. Those who've had such encounters divide on the experience: about half call it a positive encounter; half, negative."

"On a personal level, seven in 10 Iraqis say things overall are going well for them — a result that might surprise outsiders imagining the worst of life in Iraq today. Fifty-six percent say their lives are better now than before the war, compared with 19 percent who say things are worse (23 percent, the same). And the level of personal optimism is extraordinary: Seventy-one percent expect their lives to improve over the next year."

Could it just possibly be that the 70% who see things going well are part of the 77% who have had no contact with the coalition forces?

"Locally, unhappiness is highest by far with the availability of jobs (69 percent say it's bad) and the supply of electricity (64 percent negative)."

And how is it 70% think things are going well and nearly as many think that jobs and electricity are a problem?

Looks a bit screwy to me.

Arf