From Center for American Progress:
IRAN -- UNITED WITH U.S. ON TERRORISM AND BIN LADEN, BUT OPPOSE PERMANENT BASES:
A recent poll released by WorldPublicOpinion.org reveals that Iranians are both “very concerned about the danger of terrorism, reject attacks against civilians overwhelmingly, and share strongly negative views of Osama bin Laden.”
Seventy-four percent of respondents said they held an unfavorable opinion of bin Laden. Eighty-five percent of Iranians said attacks against civilians are rarely or never justified.
The findings suggest a basis for diplomacy with Iran based on our common understandings. But the results do sound one important note of caution for the Bush administration. If it pursues permanent bases in Iraq, Iranians understand that it will have a negative affect on stability in the region. An overwhelming 79 percent of Iranians said permanent U.S. bases in the Middle East will have a negative effect on stability in the region.
Recommendation 22 of the Iraq Study Group said: “The President should state that the United States does not seek permanent military bases in Iraq.” So far, Bush has refused to do so.
Last year, congressional conservatives quietly stripped a provision from a funding bill that would have prohibited permanent bases in Iraq. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) had pushed a provision through the House -- which was accepted unanimously -- that put Congress on record as saying the U.S. would not be in Iraq forever. Lee recently pledged to continue pushing for the resolution until it is passed by Congress.
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