Sunday, October 23, 2005
The British army revolts and a glimpse at Iraqi public opinion
This story, if true, is troubling at a number of levels:
If the poll is sufficiently scientific to measure popular sentiment, it is obviously extremely troubling news for the efforts of the Coalition. Further, that it leaked suggests deep divisions within the British military. Perhaps those same divisions have something to do with the surprisinig resignation of Lt. Col. Nick Henderson, the commanding officer of the first battalion of the Coldstream Guards, putatively over the refusal of the British army to supply sufficiently armored vehicles.
It will be interesting to see whether there is further reporting about this alleged secret poll for the British army, complete with information about its methodology and results.
A secret poll commissioned by senior British officers shows that millions of Iraqis believe that suicide attacks against British troops are justified.
The poll shows that up to 65 per cent of Iraqi citizens support attacks and fewer than one percent think allied military involvement is helping to improve security in their country, the Sunday Telegraph said.
The nationwide survey, undertaken for the Ministry of Defence, demonstrates for the first time the true strength of anti-Western feeling in Iraq after more than two and a half years of bloody occupation, the newspaper said.
If the poll is sufficiently scientific to measure popular sentiment, it is obviously extremely troubling news for the efforts of the Coalition. Further, that it leaked suggests deep divisions within the British military. Perhaps those same divisions have something to do with the surprisinig resignation of Lt. Col. Nick Henderson, the commanding officer of the first battalion of the Coldstream Guards, putatively over the refusal of the British army to supply sufficiently armored vehicles.
It will be interesting to see whether there is further reporting about this alleged secret poll for the British army, complete with information about its methodology and results.
1 Comments:
By 
, at
Mon Oct 24, 06:52:00 AM:
Considering that Britain is the former colonial power in Iraq, it is amazing how little trouble there has been in the South. I bet British troops patrolling the streets of Boston would be highly unwelcome.
