Arab world critical of US, Iranian roles in Iraq: poll

WASHINGTON: The Arab world is extremely critical of the US role in Iraq but certain countries are also critical of Iran s influence there as the country teeters on the brink of civil war, according to a US poll published Wednesday. The Zogby International/Arab American Institute (AAI) poll was conducted between Feb. 6 and March 10 and surveyed 3,400 Arabs in five countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. Asked about the role of the United States in Iraq, four years after the US-led invasion there, an overwhelming majority said it was negative: 68 percent in Saudi Arabia, 83 percent in Egypt and 96 percent in Jordan. Seventy-six percent of those polled in Lebanon and 70 percent in the UAE had a negative view of the US role in Iraq. But 66 percent of Egyptians, 73 percent of Jordanians, 69 percent of Lebanese and 78 percent of Saudis also viewed Iran s role as negative. Of particular concern to Arabs polled … is the degree to which the war has emboldened neighboring Iran and the heightened danger that Iraq may unravel in a civil war that could spill over into the broader region, the AAI said. Asked which country had benefited most from the Iraq war, opinions were split: in Egypt the United States was the top gainer, with 62 percent; in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon it was Iran, at 51 percent. Those interviewed in the UAE were torn, with Iran tipped at 41 percent and the US at 40 percent. Respondents who cited Iraq as the main beneficiary ranged between 3.0 to 16 percent, depending on the country. The margin of error in Egypt and Saudi Arabia was 3.5 percentage points; in Jordan, the UAE and Lebanon it was 4.1 percentage points.