Poll finds Iraqis oppose U.S. forces

Last updated on May 12, 2016 at 04:56 a.m.

WASHINGTON – About six in 10 Iraqis say they approve of attacks on U.S.-led for-ces, and slightly more than that want their government to ask U.S. troops to leave within a year, according to a poll in that country.

The Iraqis also have negative views of Osama bin Laden, according to the early September poll of 1,150.

The poll, done for University of Maryland’s Program on International Policy Attitudes, found:

n Almost four in five Iraqis say the U.S. military force in Iraq provokes more violence than it prevents.

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n About 61 percent approved of the attacks – up from 47 percent in January. A solid majority of Shiite and Sunni Arabs approved of the attacks, according to the poll. The increase came mostly among Shiite Iraqis.

n An overwhelmingly negative opinion of terror chief bin Laden and more than half, 57 percent, disapproving of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

n Three-fourths say they think the United States plans to keep military bases in Iraq permanently.

n A majority of Iraqis, 72 percent, say they think Iraq will be one state five years from now. Shiite Iraqis were most likely to feel that way, though a majority of Sunnis and Kurds also believed that would be the case.