Iraqis hate AlQaeda as much they hate the US occupation

[RickSp]

The new poll by University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) suggests that most Iraqis support attacks on American forces. It also shows that the Iraqis hate AlQaeda at least as much as they hate the American occupation. If the Americans pulled out, it would be bad news for AlQaeda in Iraq.

Some of the polls findings: Six in 10 Iraqis approve of attacks on U.S.-led forces, up from fewer than half in an earlier PIPA poll in January. Nearly eight in 10 say the U.S. presence in Iraq is provoking more conflict than it's preventing (as opposed to being "a stabilizing force.") PIPA also found that "al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden are rejected by overwhelming majorities of Shias and Kurds and large majorities of Sunnis." "It may be easy to assume," a PIPA statement says, "that as the Iraqi people become more supportive of attacks on US-led forces, they may grow warmer toward al Qaeda—the probable source of a significant number of attacks on US forces. However, this does not appear to be the case. Al Qaeda is exceedingly unpopular among the Iraqi people. The statement continues: Overall 94 percent have an unfavorable view of al Qaeda, with 82 percent expressing a very unfavorable view. Of all organizations and individuals assessed in this poll, it received the most negative ratings. The Shias and Kurds show similarly intense levels of opposition, with 95 percent and 93 percent respectively saying they have very unfavorable views. The Sunnis are also quite negative, but with less intensity. Seventy-seven percent express an unfavorable view, but only 38 percent are very unfavorable. Twenty-three percent express a favorable view (5% very). Views of Osama bin Laden are only slightly less negative. Overall 93 percent have an unfavorable view, with 77 percent very unfavorable. Very unfavorable views are expressed by 87 percent of Kurds and 94 percent of Shias. Here again, the Sunnis are negative, but less unequivocally—71 percent have an unfavorable view (23% very), and 29 percent a favorable view (3% very).

[RickSp]

How Al Qaeda views a long Iraq war

A letter found in Iraq shows that the group sees the war as a boon for its cause In appearances across the US, President Bush has been campaigning against withdrawing troops from Iraq, arguing that to leave now would hand a historic victory to Al Qaeda and inspire new generations of jihadists to attack the US. But a letter that has been translated and released by the US military indicates that Al Qaeda itself sees the continued American presence in Iraq as a boon for the terror network, which has recently shown signs of expanding into the Palestinian territories and North Africa. "The most important thing is that the jihad continues with steadfastness … indeed, prolonging the war is in our interest," says the writer, who goes by the name Atiyah. The letter, released last week, was recovered in the rubble of the Iraqi house where Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, former leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed by a US bomb in June. If the letter is accurate, it provides a window into the group's strategic thinking on Iraq that differs starkly from the one the Bush administration has been expressing publicly a view the president reiterated Wednesday when he said that Al Qaeda believes that "America is weak, and if they can kill enough innocent people we'll retreat. That's precisely what they want."

Bottom line, Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq is the greatest possible gift to AlQaeda.

[PatrickHenry]

That is a longstanding truism. Propaganda doesn't recognize it though.

Unfortunately for defenders of the Official Story on 9/11 like you, RickSp, these conspicracy theories don't jibe with your world view of naivete and underlying benevolence in Washington.
"A Vital Piece of the Puzzle",

[grandpa]

Quote by: PatrickHenry That is a longstanding truism. Propaganda doesn't recognize it though.

Bush supporters can always blame the "Liberal Media" when things don't pan out.

Grandpa h.

[RickSp]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Unfortunately for defenders of the Official Story on 9/11 like you, RickSp, these conspicracy theories don't jibe with your world view of naivete and underlying benevolence in Washington. "A Vital Piece of the Puzzle",

Pat, it is 9/11 loonies who create cover for the real conspiracies that get ignored. Wild ass stories of demolition teams and fantasy bombs just create background noise. And anyone who thinks that I assume benevolence from Washington either doesn't know me, is not paying attention, is a liar, or a fool, or some combination of these. So spare my your naivete crap.

All of which has nothing really to do with the topic at hand - the war in Iraq is boon for AlQaeda and the Islamists. They would hate any pull out of US troops in Iraq. They would not fare well without an infidel occupation to rally the troops.

[PatrickHenry]

Well, Rick. I just meant to say that most of those who find that Al Qaeda and Bush are partners think that 9/11 was a pretext dreamed up to enact the present situation...