English and translated Arabic
English:
Is it accurate to compare the US position in Iraq with Viet Nam? (start date 7FEB05)
Yes 61%
No 35%
Unsure 4%
Total 2375
as of 7FEB05, 1426Z
Yes 53%
No 43%
Unsure 4%
Total 7192
as of 7FEB05, 2229Z
Arabic:
Did Bush's state of the union address foreshadow another war in the area? (start date 5FEB05)
Yes 74.4% 10646
No 25.6% 3661
Total 14307
as of 7FEB05, 1426Z (only slightly more towards "No" as of 2230Z)
I think the accuracy of the statement posed by the first poll has been covered well, elsewhere. I don't believe that Iraq is another Viet Nam for a great many reasons. I voted "no," and was in the majority. I feel the poll has gone the other way due to the target audience being rather pessimistic of America's situation and intentions; they also may be wishing failure (the popularly perceived outcome of the Viet Nam conflict) upon the United States.
As for the second poll, I'll admit I'm a bit hawkish on this, but still voted "no." I've seen enough politicians to suspect that this is rhetoric (not a bluff, mind you, perhaps a threat) that is aimed at jump starting talks. I've read some articles since the state of the union that seem to show that perhaps the CinC overstepped his bounds calling for political reform in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, but I think that someone had to do it. While there are political reformers in those nations, they have a very small voice compared to the elected leader of the greatest nation on earth. While I wouldn't be averse to another conflict in the region (I would've guessed somewhere besides Iran, first), I'm certainly not wishing for it. In Sha' Allah, talks will be kick started, and progress will be made.
But I guess I'm more optimistic than your average Arabic speaking reader of al-Jazeera. 