What Iraqis say: They like Americans as long as they don't stay too long.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Trudy Rubin

BAGHDAD _ What do Iraqis think of their American occupiers?

This question is especially important since the U.S. occupation of Iraq is so unusual. President Bush stressed to the Iraqi people that American troops came as liberators, and the Iraqi people don't see themselves as a defeated people.

Yet U.S. troops will be occupying their country for some time, and former State Department official Paul Bremer is now their ruler. It's unclear, however, how long the Iraqis will tolerate foreign rulers. So I've been trying to figure out what the tolerance level is for an extended U.S. presence.

After a week in Baghdad and surrounding cities, and conversations with countless Iraqis, here are my imperfect survey results.

Most Iraqis, except for …