Poll: Majority Of Iraqis Say Surge Isn't Working
September 10, 2007 -- 8:07 AM EST // //

Silly Iraqis. Why don't they understand just how great "scholar-warrior" Petraeus has been for them?

Poll Highlights Disconnect Between U.S. Commanders, Iraqis

BAGHDAD, Sept. 10 -- Seven out of 10 Iraqis believe that the U.S. troop buildup in Baghdad and Anbar province has made security worse in those areas, while nearly as many say their own lives are going badly, according to a new poll conducted by ABC News, the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), and the Japanese broadcaster NHK.

The poll reveals a disconnect between U.S. commanders' view of a steadily improving situation in Iraq and a bleaker outlook among Iraqis. As Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker prepare to testify before Congress on Monday and Tuesday about the results of the troop increase, poll numbers show that ordinary Iraqis are significantly more likely to say "things are going badly" than in the early days of the increased military presence in March...

Six out of 10 people believe that security is worse in Iraq than six months ago, while just 11 percent believe security has improved...Iraqis' perception of the security situation appears to conflict with official military data showing a decline in the number of violent incidents across the country.

Okay, so let's do an unofficial tally.

In the "surge is working" corner:

Surge implementer General Petraeus

Surge orderer President Bush

Vocal surge supporter Michael O'Hanlon

Vocal surge supporter Kenneth Pollack

Vocal surge supporter Bill Kristol

Times reporter Michael Gordon

In the "surge is not working" or "there's no evidence surge is working" corner:

The majority of the American people

The vast majority of the Iraqi people

The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office

The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service

The intelligence-services-written National Intelligence Estimate

Petraeus superior Admiral Fallon

Other experts in and out of government

Times reporter who isn't Michael Gordon

Like I said, an unofficial tally. Still, it should certainly tell us something.

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