Aren't They Watching The News?

Iraqis, apparently unaware that they are supposed to be frightened and hopeless, have responded to a poll that attempted to gauge their sentiments on the direction of their country in an overwhelmingly optimistic manner. A sample:

There are positive political signs as well. Three-quarters of Iraqis express confidence in the national elections being held this week, 70 percent approve of the new constitution, and 70 percent — including most people in Sunni and Shiite areas alike — want Iraq to remain a unified country.

Interest in politics has soared.

Preference for a democratic political structure has advanced, to 57 percent of Iraqis, while support for an Islamic state has lost ground, to 14 percent (the rest, 26 percent, chiefly in Sunni Arab areas, favor a "single strong leader.")

Whatever the current problems, 69 percent of Iraqis expect things for the country overall to improve in the next year — a remarkable level of optimism in light of the continuing violence there.

Everyone in the United States should read this article and understand the reason why those who are familiar with the situation on the ground in Iraq are largely hopeful about the progress being made. Were America to surrender now in the face of a murderous ideology every bit as heinous as communism and nazism, she could well go down in history as the first country to quit the field as victory drew inevitably closer.

--Josh