Results of a poll of 1,200 Iraqi citizens indicate that an overwhelming majority of Iraqis oppose terrorist bombings in their country. Of those polled, 64% said that they believed that terrorists in Iraq are mostly foreign-born, according to the Defense Department news service, American Forces Press Service. The wire service reported that 40% of participants believe that there is some justification for attacks against American and other coalition forces.

The American Forces Press Service yesterday detailed the results of the poll, conducted between July 12 and 17 in Baghdad, Basra, Salah Ad-Din, Najaf, Diyala, and Irbil as part of the Tips hotline campaign, which allows Iraqi civilians to anonymously report criminal and insurgent activity. Iraqis this spring took over the Tips program from Americans, dramatically increasing the number and frequency of calls received, according to a May 10 briefing at the Pentagon with the director of operations for the Joint Staff, Lieutenant General James Conway.

Whether the poll reflects the views of Iraq’s overall population is difficult to determine, particularly given the ongoing threat of violence facing Iraqi civilians.

The American Forces Press Service said, “The poll showed some Iraq misperceptions, officials said. A total of 64% of those surveyed said anti-government forces come mostly from other countries. Coalition officials said most anti-government terrorists are Iraqis.”

However, it remains unclear whether most terrorists operating in Iraq are Iraqi citizens or are foreigners who have entered through bordering countries such as Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. American troops have been battling insurgents in the Euphrates River Valley in Operation Quick Strike since May in an effort to halt the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq from Syria, according to Associated Press reports. More than 20 American Marines died in the area last week, the AP said.