The Views of the Iraqi People

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 14:30

Right, you can either beleive this post, or not beleive it, that i leave up to you.

After many people have been asking me for more information as to why i feel that i know something about what the people of Iraq feel about the Saddam regime and the War (which hadnt yet started, but was impending when the information was gathered), i have decided to ask the organisation concerned (The Home Office) if i may publish some of the findings.

They gave me some rules to adhere to, ie no names, use only age brackets of 10 years, no location, no direct quoting etc.

This is from a project i was invloved in university with, for the university. Here is a sample (taken from 100 views)
___________________________
20-30 year old Female Iraqi - Came here in December 2002.

She said Saddam must go, she was sick of all the time wasting. She said 12 years was a ridiculous amount of time for action to be taken. If we take no action we are as bad as Saddam. Some of her family suffered torture due to the rest of the family leaving. She broke down in tears.
___________________________
40-50 year old Male Iraqi - Came here in December 2002.

Saddam has done so many things you(western people) could not even imagine. He had to flee to save his life. He wants the UK to take military action right now to get the Baath Party out of power. He wants to return to his home in Iraq as soon as is safe for him to do so.
___________________________
50-60 year old Iraqi Woman - Came here in November 2002.

(Was very angry) Said we are all wasting time. Everyday that goes in fighting about whether there should be a war, scores of people are being killed by Baath officials. Had personally seen her own daughter being hung from a lampost. Body was left there for days. Iraqi people live in fear day in day out. Whole villages live in fear of massacre, individuals live in fear of what they say.
___________________________

There is obviously much more info on this, but i am running short on time at the moment.

Out of all 100:
100 wanted Saddam removed.
92 said war was the Only way.
98 said war was right.
75 said they beleive Saddam still has WMD
52 said they beleive he would use them if given a chance.
only 17 thought the Iraqi Army would carry out the orders.
100 said the majority of Iraqi's in Iraq felt the same, but are too scared to leave.

There is much much more, i just can't post it all.

Make what you will of this, it is for your information.

Mal

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 14:40

Re: Re: The Views of the Iraqi People

Originally posted by Rob "Hooah!" Offer
Need those dates fixing

Ive tried to stay our of the war threads as much as possible on here, but I totally understand wh ythe nation would want rid of a tyrant like that. It doesnt suprise me one bit.

Cheers for the heads up mate, dates sorted

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 14:47

Originally posted by R34pz
There is no disputing that the iraqis want rid of saddams cruel regime. I think the main issue here is that they dont want the U.S governing or putting their puppets in place of him.
(anyone remember afghanistan???)

I've got a few "quotes" on that subject.

They basically say that they want to have the oportunity to vote in their own leader, but also know that for quite some time a US Chosen government will be in place to place order into society.

Remember, the Iraqi people are not stupid in their views, most of the older generatio are very, very well educated. They seem to know (perhaps better than most westerners) that it takes time before a proper Iraqi government can be placed in power.

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 14:51

Re: Re: The Views of the Iraqi People

Originally posted by Hellsmk2
snip snip

Fair points mate, and most do not WANT a war (who does?? tbh) but at the same time, most do actualy see it as the only way out.

The have not known freedom now for 30 years. These are not people who are living here, they are people who have temporarily come here in the last 2-4 months, people who have homes in Iraq, families in Iraq, and life in Iraq.

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 15:00

Originally posted by R34pz
Indeed Over Clocker but what gives america the right to decide another countries government or the way in which they are ruled ???
They have taken it on themselves to start/run this war and afterwards the country,snubbing any country that dare oppose their omnipotence calling them traitors (France, Germany the obvious two).

That isnt what this thread is about mate

. No one has the right to determine the government of another country, alothough some have an obligation to get rid of opresive regimes.

This isnt an anti/pro war thread about America.

It is about what the Iraqi's feel.

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 15:17

One thing, they are not the views of Ex-Iraqi's, they are still Iraqi's. They have just come here for a few months to save their lives (Red Crescent/Cross sorted it).

I will try and sumarise a few more people's quote's in the next few hours guys, a bit short of time atm.

Also, the views of these people is in no way one sided. Some of these people actually worked under the regime etc etc. Not much more i can unfortunately though, as you can imagine, its all pretty confidential for good reason.

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 15:41

Originally posted by punky_munky
I'm not trying to be Mr. Debate, I am sure that the vast majority of Iraqis don't like the regime, I just think Overclockers figures are slightly skewed. I do not believe 100% of Iraqis want Saddam gone. That's all.

Nor do i, but 100 out of 100 of those involoved did. i beleive it is pretty close to 100 % in Iraq though. Even his RG, SRG and ministers seem to have legged it.

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 15:42

Originally posted by Bear
Oh so its now convienient to believe what the asylum seekers have to say hey. Only a little while all asylum seekers were money grabbing scrounging scum to some on here !!! Now it backs your agruements they are all truthful honest people. Sheesh.

Im not directing this at any particular but you must know who you are.

Ummm, they are not asylum seekers mate. So ask before you spout your mouth of

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 15:46

Also, one thing, these figures were not supposed to be "objective", and in fact, couldnt be expressed here in an objective manner i'm afraid.

I just posted this after receiving 8 requests in the last few days to elaborate on some of the things i was saying

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 15:48

Originally posted by Solex
Out of interest - were those interviewed Shi'te's or Sunni's? Or a mix of the two? Any figures on the split?

A mix of the two mate, i can't give what the exact split was (i was never allowed to see all the info), but it was generally not far off the make up of Iraq.

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 15:51

Originally posted by Bear
sorry but from what you said:

"They have just come here for a few months to save their lives (Red Crescent/Cross sorted it)".

I can only go on what you posted, if someone stays here to save thier lives, arent they seeking asylum ?

Not need to throw your toys out of your pram, I can only go by what you have written.

OK, fair enough, they are in a way seeking asylum. But they didnt come here out of choice, they were saved by certain people (international agency

). They are not scrounging off the state etc. Most (not all) held down good jobs etc.

Any money is not coming from the UK government, it is coming from the international organisation i beleive.

ps, i didnt throw any toys out of my pram

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 16:04

ps, one thing Sharknose, where did i say Foreign Office??

it was carried out by a university department with authority given from the Home Office, because the Home Office were given the task of dealing with them for the time being

Over Clocker · 10 Apr 2003 at 16:09

Yeah thats not a problem, a delegation from all the ULU colleges, ie UCL etc, my old university-Kingston, and also Brunel.

/edit, i better add, it was carried out by the uni's on behalf of something else.