Iraq: the simulacrum continues. posted by Richard Seymour

The BBC kindly brings us the latest poll results from Iraq, as unearthed by Oxford Research International. Now, there are all sorts of polls emerging from Iraq, with various ups and downs, and few of them look good for the United States. I have always argued against basing one's opinions on what polls say, but they do provide encouragement and grist for the odd mill from time to time. But here's a curious thing: this poll, which actually looks very bad for the occupiers, is being touted and interpreted by many as vindication for the occupation. It's not altogether unexpected, since the BBC and other news outlets have chosen to frame the story as one of a new optimism. Things are getting sunnier, despite the doom-merchants, nay-sayers, plodding peace activists, negative ninnies etc. Why can't the anti-Bush crowd embrace what ordinary Iraqis feel instead of being so complacently cynical? "The findings," says the BBC's Paul Reynolds, "are in line with the kind of arguments currently being deployed by President George W Bush."

How so? Well, the polls show general support for a strong, united state in Iraq. Excuse me? Did we not already know this? And yet, did not the United States and its puppet government just push through a potentially disastrous federalist constitution? Is that it? Well, there is considerably more confidence in the government than I would have expected. And yet, this could in part be because Iraqis "put their trust therefore in their own institutions - not in those of foreigners." Oh, there’s also quite a bit of optimism that things will get better, but that’s largely because a majority feel the situation is presently extremely bad. 65% in this poll oppose the occupation (lower than other poll findings, but still a compelling majority, and an increase of 14% on the previous year), and a majority say the invasion in 2003 was wrong (this has been true since March 2004 at least, but it has rarely been reported, and the following files are only available as Google Caches: March 2004; June 2004). What is more, a plurality want the troops to withdraw instantly (other polls have shown that a clear majority support instant withdrawal).

This so far from a vindication of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, even if you think issues ought to be measured in that way, and therefore the only conclusion that avails itself is that the supporters of the war are desperate to the point of hallucination.

While I'm at it, I thought it was worth noting the publicly declared alignment of Dr Christopher Sahm of ORI: "We are beginning to lose the centre. The centre has gone sour. It has a siege mentality." Yes, that's we. Meanwhile, the centre has a "siege mentality" - ie, is psychologically unbalanced rather than actually under siege. Well, how’s this for circumstances liable to produce a ‘siege mentality’: broken bones, electrocution, cigarette burns to the back and neck and fingernails torn out. That’ll do it.