PrintMarch 16, 2009
'Dramatic' change in Iraqi attitudes about the future
An ABC-BBC-NHK poll that surveyed more than 2200 Iraqis across all 18 provinces has found dramatic improvements on how the people see their own security.
The poll is the sixth in a series of surveys stretching back to March 2004 and shows a marked overall improvement in perceptions, the BBC's Adam Mynott says.
Its findings show striking shifts in opinion since the last poll in March 2008.
On security, 85% of all respondents described the current situation as very good or quite good - up 23% on a year ago:
a total of 52% say security has improved over the last year, up 16% on March 2008
- only 8% say it is worse - against 26% last year
- 59% feel safe in their neighbourhoods, up 22% from 37% last time.
The increase in Sunnis who believe their lives are better is twice that of Shias.
One nation is seen as playing a more negative role than the United States - Iran.
Overall, the poll reflects a stabilizing situation where the people are now capable of building a government.
