You know, I keep saying to myself, "don't respond. It only encourages him." But if I let the bullshit stand, and no one else contradicts you, it becomes like one of those media lies that just keeps going and going and going. "Immediately" in the poll was defined as "the next few months," a distinction that doesn't seem to make it to many news stories. This is why I would really like to see the original poll mentioned in the article, and know which "cities" besides Baghdad were polled.

For those who care, the actual CNN poll can be seen here, and I recommend a close reading of it. It is obvious that the results are all over the map, and both pro and anti-war people could easily cherry-pick items out of it. Here, watch me. I'll cherry-pick the results and put my own spin on them:

4.1 In your opinion, is Iraq is much better off, somewhat better off, somewhat worse off, or much worse off than before the U.S. and British invasion?

Much better off 11%
Somewhat better off 31
About the same 17
Somewhat worse off 24
Much worse off 15
Don’t know 2
Refused

4.2. What about [NAME OF GOVERNORATE WHERE INTERVIEW IS TAKING PLACE]. In your opinion, is ______ much better off, somewhat better off, somewhat worse off, or much worse off than before the U.S.
and British invasion?

Much better off 11%
Somewhat better off 32
About the same 27
Somewhat worse off 18
Much worse off 11
Don’t know 1
Refused *

5.1 How about you and your family, would you say are much better off, somewhat better off, somewhat worse off,
or much worse off than you were before the U.S. and British invasion?

Much better off 14%
Somewhat better off 37
About the same 25
Somewhat worse off 15
Much worse off 10
Don’t know 1
Refused

"Only 39 percent of Iraqis think Iraq is worse off than before the invasion. If you ask about individual governates, that number drops to 29 percent. Ask about individual families, it drops to 25 percent."

26.4. If the Coalition left Iraq today, would you feel more safe or less safe?

More safe 28%
Less safe 53
No difference (vol.) 12
Don’t Know 8

27. Do you think that Saddam Hussein would have been removed from power by Iraqis themselves if U.S. and
British forces had not taken direct military action?
Yes 4%
No 89
Don’t Know 6
Refused 2

"Only 28 percent of Iraqis would feel more safe if the coalition left today [note the contrast with the 57 percent who want us to leave in the next few months.] Only 4 percent of Iraqis feel they could have dealt with Saddam on their own."

60. Thinking about any hardships you might have suffered since the US, Britain invasion, do you personally think that ousting Saddam Hussein was worth it or not?

Yes, was worth it 61%
No, was not worth it 28
Don’t know 9
Refused 2

"61 percent think ousting Saddam was worth the hardships since the invasion."

There are some poll answers that don't lend themselves to political spin, but make one think.

64.1.1. In Iraq’s war with Iran, was there anyone in your immediate family – and by that, I mean a father, brother or son – who was

Killed, or still missing in action? 10%
Wounded? 7
Taken prisoner, but later released? 3
Refused 80

64.1.2. And what about in the 1990-1991 War, was there anyone in your immediate family – a father, brother or son – who was…

Killed, or still missing in action? 3%
Wounded? 3
Taken prisoner, but later released? 2
Refused 91

64.2. Finally, since the invasion of Iraq last March, was there anyone in your immediate family – a father, brother or
son – who was…

Killed, or still missing in action? 1%
Wounded? 2
Taken prisoner, but later released? 1
Refused 10
No answer 86

A huge number of Iraqis refused to answer these questions at all. Why? I can maybe dimly see the reasons on the more recent questions--nobody wants to set themselves up as knowing someone who fought the Americans once. But why the Iran-Iraq war?

21. In your opinion, how have U.S. forces in Iraq conducted themselves?

Very well 10%
Fairly well 24
Fairly badly 29
Very badly 29
Don’t know 9
Refused 1

22. [IF ANSWERED FAIRLY OR VERY BADLY] Do you say this

From personal experience, 7%
From things you have seen yourself, or 39
From what you have heard? 54

25. Have you or any other household members had any personal contact with any U.S. military forces or not?

Yes 6%
No 94

Okay. So where are these opinions coming from if not from personal experience?

If you want the real significance of the CNN poll, it's that a huge number of Iraqis are having their opinions formed by the radical Arabic media, rather than any personal experience. Go through the questions with this in mind, and it becomes glaringly obvious.

"Hearts and minds" is being fought, not on the streets, but on the television sets of Iraq. While alternatives are coming on line, the lack of an outlet for non-al-Jazeera news for much of this year is one of the areas where I would agree that war planning fell flat.