Russians See US Operation in Iraq as Success

The majority of Russians (54%) consider US operations in Iraq to be a success, while only 24% believe the military operation to be a failure. These are the results of a poll carried out by the Public Opinion foundation. 37% of Russians said that Iraq resistance had been much weaker than they expected, while 21% said that Iraq resistance had been much stronger than they anticipated.

In spite of the fact that US and British troops have occupied all the key towns in Iraq, Saddam Hussein has been overthrown, and armed resistance has ended, many Russians believe that the war is not yet over and will continue for a long time. Immediately after the fall of Baghdad, 20% of those polled suggested that the war would last between another week and a month, 11% thought it would last one to three months, 6% - three to six months, 7% - six months to a year, and 24% - over a year.

1,500 people took part in the poll, which was conducted between April 5 and 12.