LAT: Most Voters Say It Was Not Worth Going to War in Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/timespoll/la-na-iraqpoll11jun11,1,1905587,print.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Most U.S. voters now say it was not worth going to war in Iraq, but an overwhelming majority reject the idea of setting a deadline to withdraw all U.S. forces from the country, according to a new Times Poll.

Though the survey found voters increasingly worried that America is becoming ensnarled in Iraq and pessimistic that a democratic government will take root there, less than 1 in 5 said America should withdraw all its forces within weeks. And less than 1 in 4 endorse the idea advanced by some Democratic-leaning foreign policy experts and liberal groups to establish a specific date for withdrawal.

"I never thought we should go to war in Iraq," said Anne Wardwell, a retired museum curator in Cleveland who responded to the poll. "But I think we have to see it through, because if we don't, it is going to be a disaster in the region."

<snip>

The poll underscores how attitudes about the war loom as a dividing line in the presidential election. Among those who believe the threat from Iraq justified war, Bush leads Kerry, 83% to 13%. Among those who now believe the war was not justified, Kerry leads, 84% to 11%

[shraby]

1. If we'd been told the truth in

the first place, before we went to war I doubt many would have supported invading Iraq.

[Voltaire99]

5. No. They'd been told the truth for years...

...and that didn't stop them supporting the genocidal sanctions. Do not forget Madeline Albright explaining away the 500,000 dead children. That hardly ruffled American feathers.

No, Americans wanted their war. They wanted to punish someone, anyone, in the Middle East. And they got it. Yes, they did.

Now, stunned that the waiter has presented them with the bill, they're complaining of indigestion.

[Voltaire99]

2. Wisdom of the ages: "It wasn't worth it. But oh, let's not leave!"

TV, it turns out, is good for Empire. Addle a nation with enough TV, and it will swallow anything.

On virtually every channel you will find an establishment stooge repeating the "withdrawal is disaster" line, over and over.

And such is the nature of ignorance that even when one spell wears off (WMDs, nukes, armageddon, aaaaaah!), another quickly takes effect:

Um, gee, lots of people are dead, but gas prices are high. So it wasn't worth it. But, um, leaving would be a, um, disaster.

[paulk]

8. In other words

Anyone who doesn't agree with you is stupid, ignorant, and morally inferior?

[DenverDem]

9. But, "It's the best of all possible worlds!"

Sorry, I just love Voltaire. When things get grim, I think of that line from "Candide", and it always gives me hope and a smile.

[PartyPooper]

3. Too bad, these folks didn't listen to us 2 years ago.

Everyone who voted for Bu$h is responsible for this bloody mess!

[xxqqqzme]

4. it continues to amaze and, at the same time, befuddle

me that anyone can continue 2 Blieve invading Iraq was justified. What the hell had those people EVER done to any of us that justifies murdering thousands of them? What? I want one person supporting this madness 2 answer that one simple question.

BTW, the same question applies to the invasion and murdering of Afghanis.

[grytpype]

6. A total repudiation of Bush's Iraq policy.

The tide is running high against Bush. I think his "re"-election will soon be considered impossible.

And just wait until the Plame indictments. I think there's a substantial chance that Cheney will be indicted. Then Bush will have to choose between firing him and protecting him. He's fucked no matter what he does.

[cliss]

7. I don't understand that kind of thinking.

Before we marched into Iraq and invaded their country, millions around the world stood up to protest. They didn't think we should go there. Now that we're there, they don't think we should leave?

Iraq was doing OK without us. They will be able to pull through without us. After all, we haven't exactly been Santa Claus over there, now have we?