of the US invasion and occupation.
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A majority of Iraqis say their country is in dismal economic shape and getting worse, according to a new poll conducted by a conservative American think tank, with three in four respondents also describing security in the country as "poor."
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The numbers reveal a population with little optimism about its economic future. They show that Iraqis believe jobs are harder to find, electrical service is poorer, and corruption has worsened dramatically since last year.
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But the poll suggested that any new Iraqi government faces a hard road in turning around the souring mood. Fifty-two percent believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, the most since the IRI's polls have been conducted, with just 30% saying it's going in the right direction — the lowest percentage since the polling began. Only a bare majority — 51% — believe life would be better or much better within the next five years, down dramatically from the 85% who said so in April 2005.
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The results also suggested a nation struggling with economic hardship. Asked if they would be willing to "accept a small increase in the price of fuel in exchange for a large reduction in Iraq's international debt, an increase of several hundred thousand new jobs for Iraqis and significantly improved government services for the poorest Iraqis," 61% of those polled said no. When asked why they would not accept the price hike, 55% said it was because they were unemployed.
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That is a critical point, because the US following the advice of the market economic dominated World Bank is about to push through major fuel price increases in Iraq.
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Only 1% said they trust American and coalition forces for their personal protection.
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So much for the neo-con argument that the Iraqis like the US troop presence.
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