‘Motive behind Iraq war was not democracy’
Web posted at: 2/19/2006 3:42:52
Source ::: The Peninsula

DOHA: Only 22 per cent of the American participants of a recent survey believe that the US was successful in bringing democracy in Iraq following the war. Majority of the surveyed also felt that democracy cannot be imposed from outside, but should evolve from within a society.

The findings were presented by Daniel Yankelovich, chairman, Public Agenda, Viewpoint Learning in the US while addressing a session on public opinion polling at the US-Islamic World Forum yesterday.

The survey also revealed that only one out of every four Americans believe that the US was successful in building good relations with the Muslim world. The American public was deeply worried about two issues- the growing number of Americans being killed in Iraq and the US energy independence. On the Iraq issue, the opinion was sharply divided on political lines- among the Republicans and the Democrats- while on the energy issue, 85 per cent of the participants felt that the US could do something to address the issue.

Majority of the surveyed didn't support "oil politics" and urged the US to accentuate humanitarian ideals in the Muslim world to obtain mass support.