Seanad debates
Tuesday, 4 November 2003
Humanitarian Issues in Post-War Iraq: Statements.
In that regard it is worth pointing out something not often mentioned, namely that the only semi-accurate means of ascertaining current public opinion in Iraq is an independent Gallup poll, carried out by one of the major polling organisations about five or six weeks ago. Interestingly, the poll showed that most of the ordinary citizens of Iraq feel their future will be better than their past, despite the difficulties in their country and its occupation by armies they do not wish to have there. Let us resolve to ensure their hopes and wishes in that regard are fulfilled. We may argue in this House and elsewhere about the methods used to bring about Saddam Hussein's downfall, but nobody can say that the Iraqi people are not better off without him. However, eaten bread will not sustain forever, so the new political future for Iraq must be carved out. The European Union has a big role to play in that regard, as well as the United Nations.
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