Iraqi Youth Feel Mixture of Hope, Outrage and Anxiety as U.S. Troops Withdraw
Iraqi Youth Feel Mixture of Hope, Outrage and Anxiety as U.S. Troops Withdraw
Based upon a Survey by the Center of Information for Research and Development
Tammuz Organization for Social Development and
The Center of Maslah for Human Resources Development
University students in Iraq, ages 18 to 25, reflecting upon the U.S. military presence in their country for more than eight years, overwhelming support the end of what they believe was an “occupation.” A poll of 1257 students (42.5% females; 57.5% males) from Baghdad, Erbil, Anbar, and Thy Qar governorates also revealed concerns about what the security situation in Iraq will be in the months ahead, suspicion that the U.S. withdrawal was neither real nor permanent, and worries that armed militias could re-emerge within the country or that other countries in the region would interfere in Iraq’s affairs. 
The students were also highly critical of the government that the U.S. put in place during the occupation. More than 93% called the current political authority either corrupt or chaotic. More than 2/3’s thought that the result of the U.S. presence had been to increase poverty, deprivation, unemployment and crime; spread sectarian conflict; and fuel lawlessness and corruption. The aim of conducting the poll was to engage students in political and social discussion after the exclusion and marginalization they have experienced under the previous regime and during the presence of the U.S. in Iraq. The students were geographically distributed as follows: Governorate Number Percentage Baghdad 655 52.1% Thy Qar 220 17.5% Al Anbar 216 17.2% Erbil 166 13.2% TOTAL 1257 100% 1. Do you think the withdrawal of U.S. troops will cause deterioration of the security situation? 39.5% Yes 42.8% No 17.7% I do not know 2. Do you think that the Iraqi government currently has the capacity to maintain security on its own without the support of allied forces? 20% It has sufficient capacity 55% It has only limited capacity 25% It does not have the capacity 3. In your opinion, what are the prospects that armed militias will emerge in Iraq after the U.S. troops withdraw? 36.7% There will be widespread emergence 48.1% There will be limited emergence 15.2% Armed militias will not emerge 4. Will other countries in the region use the withdrawal to increase their intervention in the affairs of Iraq? 68.1% Yes 14.6% No 17.3% I do not know 5. How would you describe the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 17.7% The withdrawal is genuine and final 37% The withdrawal is genuine but only temporary 45.3% It is not a withdrawal but a redistribution of forces 6. Do you support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 63.8% I support 21.7% I do not support 14.5% I am undecided 7. What are your feelings as you watch the U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq? 50.6% A sense of relief 34.9% Anxiety 14.5% It does not affect me 8. Now that the U.S. troops are on the verge of pulling out of Iraq, how would you describe their presence here, which lasted more than eight years? 13.5% Liberation 77.5% Occupation 9% I do not know 9. How would you describe the style of political power that the Americans put in place during their stay in Iraq? 6.1% Political authority is fair 39.3% Political authority is corrupt 54.6% Political authority is chaotic 10. In your opinion, what does the future hold for Iraq after the withdrawal of U.S. forces is complete? 34.5% The future will be better 28.5% The future will be worse 37% I do not know 11. Do you agree that American military experts should train Iraqi forces after the withdrawal? 40.9% Yes 59.1% No 12. Do you agree that American military trainers should be given legal immunity in Iraq? 13.8% Yes 86.2% No 13. How would you describe the major lasting impact of the U.S. presence in Iraq after more than eight years? (You may select more than one answer.) 68.7% Corruption and lawlessness is rampant in the state and society 10.2% The foundations of democracy have been established 67.1% Religious intolerance and sectarian and ethnic conflict have been spread 15% Society has moved from an era of tyranny to an era of freedom 64.1% Poverty and deprivation, unemployment and crime have increased 11.7% There is economic development and people’s daily life has improved
Iraqi Youth Feel Mixture of Hope, Outrage and Anxiety as U.S. Troops Withdraw
Based upon a Survey by the Center of Information for Research and Development
Tammuz Organization for Social Development and
The Center of Maslah for Human Resources Development
University students in Iraq, ages 18 to 25, reflecting upon the U.S. military presence in their country for more than eight years, overwhelming support the end of what they believe was an “occupation.” A poll of 1257 students (42.5% females; 57.5% males) from Baghdad, Erbil, Anbar, and Thy Qar governorates also revealed concerns about what the security situation in Iraq will be in the months ahead, suspicion that the U.S. withdrawal was neither real nor permanent, and worries that armed militias could re-emerge within the country or that other countries in the region would interfere in Iraq’s affairs. The students were also highly critical of the government that the U.S. put in place during the occupation. More than 93% called the current political authority either corrupt or chaotic. More than 2/3’s thought that the result of the U.S. presence had been to increase poverty, deprivation, unemployment and crime; spread sectarian conflict; and fuel lawlessness and corruption. The aim of conducting the poll was to engage students in political and social discussion after the exclusion and marginalization they have experienced under the previous regime and during the presence of the U.S. in Iraq. The students were geographically distributed as follows: Governorate Number Percentage Baghdad 655 52.1% Thy Qar 220 17.5% Al Anbar 216 17.2% Erbil 166 13.2% TOTAL 1257 100% 1. Do you think the withdrawal of U.S. troops will cause deterioration of the security situation? 39.5% Yes 42.8% No 17.7% I do not know 2. Do you think that the Iraqi government currently has the capacity to maintain security on its own without the support of allied forces? 20% It has sufficient capacity 55% It has only limited capacity 25% It does not have the capacity 3. In your opinion, what are the prospects that armed militias will emerge in Iraq after the U.S. troops withdraw? 36.7% There will be widespread emergence 48.1% There will be limited emergence 15.2% Armed militias will not emerge 4. Will other countries in the region use the withdrawal to increase their intervention in the affairs of Iraq? 68.1% Yes 14.6% No 17.3% I do not know 5. How would you describe the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 17.7% The withdrawal is genuine and final 37% The withdrawal is genuine but only temporary 45.3% It is not a withdrawal but a redistribution of forces 6. Do you support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 63.8% I support 21.7% I do not support 14.5% I am undecided 7. What are your feelings as you watch the U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq? 50.6% A sense of relief 34.9% Anxiety 14.5% It does not affect me 8. Now that the U.S. troops are on the verge of pulling out of Iraq, how would you describe their presence here, which lasted more than eight years? 13.5% Liberation 77.5% Occupation 9% I do not know 9. How would you describe the style of political power that the Americans put in place during their stay in Iraq? 6.1% Political authority is fair 39.3% Political authority is corrupt 54.6% Political authority is chaotic 10. In your opinion, what does the future hold for Iraq after the withdrawal of U.S. forces is complete? 34.5% The future will be better 28.5% The future will be worse 37% I do not know 11. Do you agree that American military experts should train Iraqi forces after the withdrawal? 40.9% Yes 59.1% No 12. Do you agree that American military trainers should be given legal immunity in Iraq? 13.8% Yes 86.2% No 13. How would you describe the major lasting impact of the U.S. presence in Iraq after more than eight years? (You may select more than one answer.) 68.7% Corruption and lawlessness is rampant in the state and society 10.2% The foundations of democracy have been established 67.1% Religious intolerance and sectarian and ethnic conflict have been spread 15% Society has moved from an era of tyranny to an era of freedom 64.1% Poverty and deprivation, unemployment and crime have increased 11.7% There is economic development and people’s daily life has improved
Iraqi Youth Feel Mixture of Hope, Outrage and Anxiety as U.S. Troops Withdraw
Based upon a Survey by the Center of Information for Research and Development
Tammuz Organization for Social Development and
The Center of Maslah for Human Resources Development
University students in Iraq, ages 18 to 25, reflecting upon the U.S. military presence in their country for more than eight years, overwhelming support the end of what they believe was an “occupation.” A poll of 1257 students (42.5% females; 57.5% males) from Baghdad, Erbil, Anbar, and Thy Qar governorates also revealed concerns about what the security situation in Iraq will be in the months ahead, suspicion that the U.S. withdrawal was neither real nor permanent, and worries that armed militias could re-emerge within the country or that other countries in the region would interfere in Iraq’s affairs. The students were also highly critical of the government that the U.S. put in place during the occupation. More than 93% called the current political authority either corrupt or chaotic. More than 2/3’s thought that the result of the U.S. presence had been to increase poverty, deprivation, unemployment and crime; spread sectarian conflict; and fuel lawlessness and corruption. The aim of conducting the poll was to engage students in political and social discussion after the exclusion and marginalization they have experienced under the previous regime and during the presence of the U.S. in Iraq. The students were geographically distributed as follows: Governorate Number Percentage Baghdad 655 52.1% Thy Qar 220 17.5% Al Anbar 216 17.2% Erbil 166 13.2% TOTAL 1257 100% 1. Do you think the withdrawal of U.S. troops will cause deterioration of the security situation? 39.5% Yes 42.8% No 17.7% I do not know 2. Do you think that the Iraqi government currently has the capacity to maintain security on its own without the support of allied forces? 20% It has sufficient capacity 55% It has only limited capacity 25% It does not have the capacity 3. In your opinion, what are the prospects that armed militias will emerge in Iraq after the U.S. troops withdraw? 36.7% There will be widespread emergence 48.1% There will be limited emergence 15.2% Armed militias will not emerge 4. Will other countries in the region use the withdrawal to increase their intervention in the affairs of Iraq? 68.1% Yes 14.6% No 17.3% I do not know 5. How would you describe the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 17.7% The withdrawal is genuine and final 37% The withdrawal is genuine but only temporary 45.3% It is not a withdrawal but a redistribution of forces 6. Do you support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 63.8% I support 21.7% I do not support 14.5% I am undecided 7. What are your feelings as you watch the U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq? 50.6% A sense of relief 34.9% Anxiety 14.5% It does not affect me 8. Now that the U.S. troops are on the verge of pulling out of Iraq, how would you describe their presence here, which lasted more than eight years? 13.5% Liberation 77.5% Occupation 9% I do not know 9. How would you describe the style of political power that the Americans put in place during their stay in Iraq? 6.1% Political authority is fair 39.3% Political authority is corrupt 54.6% Political authority is chaotic 10. In your opinion, what does the future hold for Iraq after the withdrawal of U.S. forces is complete? 34.5% The future will be better 28.5% The future will be worse 37% I do not know 11. Do you agree that American military experts should train Iraqi forces after the withdrawal? 40.9% Yes 59.1% No 12. Do you agree that American military trainers should be given legal immunity in Iraq? 13.8% Yes 86.2% No 13. How would you describe the major lasting impact of the U.S. presence in Iraq after more than eight years? (You may select more than one answer.) 68.7% Corruption and lawlessness is rampant in the state and society 10.2% The foundations of democracy have been established 67.1% Religious intolerance and sectarian and ethnic conflict have been spread 15% Society has moved from an era of tyranny to an era of freedom 64.1% Poverty and deprivation, unemployment and crime have increased 11.7% There is economic development and people’s daily life has improved
Iraqi Youth Feel Mixture of Hope, Outrage and Anxiety as U.S. Troops Withdraw
Based upon a Survey by the Center of Information for Research and Development
Tammuz Organization for Social Development and
The Center of Maslah for Human Resources Development
University students in Iraq, ages 18 to 25, reflecting upon the U.S. military presence in their country for more than eight years, overwhelming support the end of what they believe was an “occupation.” A poll of 1257 students (42.5% females; 57.5% males) from Baghdad, Erbil, Anbar, and Thy Qar governorates also revealed concerns about what the security situation in Iraq will be in the months ahead, suspicion that the U.S. withdrawal was neither real nor permanent, and worries that armed militias could re-emerge within the country or that other countries in the region would interfere in Iraq’s affairs. The students were also highly critical of the government that the U.S. put in place during the occupation. More than 93% called the current political authority either corrupt or chaotic. More than 2/3’s thought that the result of the U.S. presence had been to increase poverty, deprivation, unemployment and crime; spread sectarian conflict; and fuel lawlessness and corruption. The aim of conducting the poll was to engage students in political and social discussion after the exclusion and marginalization they have experienced under the previous regime and during the presence of the U.S. in Iraq. The students were geographically distributed as follows: Governorate Number Percentage Baghdad 655 52.1% Thy Qar 220 17.5% Al Anbar 216 17.2% Erbil 166 13.2% TOTAL 1257 100% 1. Do you think the withdrawal of U.S. troops will cause deterioration of the security situation? 39.5% Yes 42.8% No 17.7% I do not know 2. Do you think that the Iraqi government currently has the capacity to maintain security on its own without the support of allied forces? 20% It has sufficient capacity 55% It has only limited capacity 25% It does not have the capacity 3. In your opinion, what are the prospects that armed militias will emerge in Iraq after the U.S. troops withdraw? 36.7% There will be widespread emergence 48.1% There will be limited emergence 15.2% Armed militias will not emerge 4. Will other countries in the region use the withdrawal to increase their intervention in the affairs of Iraq? 68.1% Yes 14.6% No 17.3% I do not know 5. How would you describe the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 17.7% The withdrawal is genuine and final 37% The withdrawal is genuine but only temporary 45.3% It is not a withdrawal but a redistribution of forces 6. Do you support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 63.8% I support 21.7% I do not support 14.5% I am undecided 7. What are your feelings as you watch the U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq? 50.6% A sense of relief 34.9% Anxiety 14.5% It does not affect me 8. Now that the U.S. troops are on the verge of pulling out of Iraq, how would you describe their presence here, which lasted more than eight years? 13.5% Liberation 77.5% Occupation 9% I do not know 9. How would you describe the style of political power that the Americans put in place during their stay in Iraq? 6.1% Political authority is fair 39.3% Political authority is corrupt 54.6% Political authority is chaotic 10. In your opinion, what does the future hold for Iraq after the withdrawal of U.S. forces is complete? 34.5% The future will be better 28.5% The future will be worse 37% I do not know 11. Do you agree that American military experts should train Iraqi forces after the withdrawal? 40.9% Yes 59.1% No 12. Do you agree that American military trainers should be given legal immunity in Iraq? 13.8% Yes 86.2% No 13. How would you describe the major lasting impact of the U.S. presence in Iraq after more than eight years? (You may select more than one answer.) 68.7% Corruption and lawlessness is rampant in the state and society 10.2% The foundations of democracy have been established 67.1% Religious intolerance and sectarian and ethnic conflict have been spread 15% Society has moved from an era of tyranny to an era of freedom 64.1% Poverty and deprivation, unemployment and crime have increased 11.7% There is economic development and people’s daily life has improved
Iraqi Youth Feel Mixture of Hope, Outrage and Anxiety as U.S. Troops Withdraw
Based upon a Survey by the Center of Information for Research and Development
Tammuz Organization for Social Development and
The Center of Maslah for Human Resources Development
University students in Iraq, ages 18 to 25, reflecting upon the U.S. military presence in their country for more than eight years, overwhelming support the end of what they believe was an “occupation.” A poll of 1257 students (42.5% females; 57.5% males) from Baghdad, Erbil, Anbar, and Thy Qar governorates also revealed concerns about what the security situation in Iraq will be in the months ahead, suspicion that the U.S. withdrawal was neither real nor permanent, and worries that armed militias could re-emerge within the country or that other countries in the region would interfere in Iraq’s affairs. The students were also highly critical of the government that the U.S. put in place during the occupation. More than 93% called the current political authority either corrupt or chaotic. More than 2/3’s thought that the result of the U.S. presence had been to increase poverty, deprivation, unemployment and crime; spread sectarian conflict; and fuel lawlessness and corruption. The aim of conducting the poll was to engage students in political and social discussion after the exclusion and marginalization they have experienced under the previous regime and during the presence of the U.S. in Iraq. The students were geographically distributed as follows: Governorate Number Percentage Baghdad 655 52.1% Thy Qar 220 17.5% Al Anbar 216 17.2% Erbil 166 13.2% TOTAL 1257 100% 1. Do you think the withdrawal of U.S. troops will cause deterioration of the security situation? 39.5% Yes 42.8% No 17.7% I do not know 2. Do you think that the Iraqi government currently has the capacity to maintain security on its own without the support of allied forces? 20% It has sufficient capacity 55% It has only limited capacity 25% It does not have the capacity 3. In your opinion, what are the prospects that armed militias will emerge in Iraq after the U.S. troops withdraw? 36.7% There will be widespread emergence 48.1% There will be limited emergence 15.2% Armed militias will not emerge 4. Will other countries in the region use the withdrawal to increase their intervention in the affairs of Iraq? 68.1% Yes 14.6% No 17.3% I do not know 5. How would you describe the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 17.7% The withdrawal is genuine and final 37% The withdrawal is genuine but only temporary 45.3% It is not a withdrawal but a redistribution of forces 6. Do you support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? 63.8% I support 21.7% I do not support 14.5% I am undecided 7. What are your feelings as you watch the U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq? 50.6% A sense of relief 34.9% Anxiety 14.5% It does not affect me 8. Now that the U.S. troops are on the verge of pulling out of Iraq, how would you describe their presence here, which lasted more than eight years? 13.5% Liberation 77.5% Occupation 9% I do not know 9. How would you describe the style of political power that the Americans put in place during their stay in Iraq? 6.1% Political authority is fair 39.3% Political authority is corrupt 54.6% Political authority is chaotic 10. In your opinion, what does the future hold for Iraq after the withdrawal of U.S. forces is complete? 34.5% The future will be better 28.5% The future will be worse 37% I do not know 11. Do you agree that American military experts should train Iraqi forces after the withdrawal? 40.9% Yes 59.1% No 12. Do you agree that American military trainers should be given legal immunity in Iraq? 13.8% Yes 86.2% No 13. How would you describe the major lasting impact of the U.S. presence in Iraq after more than eight years? (You may select more than one answer.) 68.7% Corruption and lawlessness is rampant in the state and society 10.2% The foundations of democracy have been established 67.1% Religious intolerance and sectarian and ethnic conflict have been spread 15% Society has moved from an era of tyranny to an era of freedom 64.1% Poverty and deprivation, unemployment and crime have increased 11.7% There is economic development and people’s daily life has improved
