WP: Poll Finds Dimmer View of Iraq War - A1 with graphics

[Pirate Smile]

Poll Finds Dimmer View of Iraq War
52% Say U.S. Has Not Become Safer

By Dana Milbank and Claudia Deane
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 8, 2005; Page A01

For the first time since the war in Iraq began, more than half of the American public believes the fight there has not made the United States safer, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

While the focus in Washington has shifted from the Iraq conflict to Social Security and other domestic matters, the survey found that Americans continue to rank Iraq second only to the economy in importance -- and that many are losing patience with the enterprise.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans say the number of casualties in Iraq is unacceptable, while two-thirds say the U.S. military there is bogged down and nearly six in 10 say the war was not worth fighting -- in all three cases matching or exceeding the highest levels of pessimism yet recorded. More than four in 10 believe the U.S. presence in Iraq is becoming analogous to the experience in Vietnam.

Perhaps most ominous for President Bush, 52 percent said war in Iraq has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States, while 47 percent said it has. It was the first time a majority of Americans disagreed with the central notion Bush has offered to build support for war: that the fight there will make Americans safer from terrorists at home. In late 2003, 62 percent thought the Iraq war aided U.S. security, and three months ago 52 percent thought so.





http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/07/AR2005060700296.html

Here is the pdf with the full poll
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/pos...

[Spazito]

1. Good graphs, thanks for posting this

I think it is VERY interesting that 4 out of 10 Americans now see Iraq as the same as Vietnam, that is VERY bad news for bush, imo.

[Erika]

3. We don't do well when we occupy countries who aren't a threat

to us. Whether it be some concept that we must stop communism from spreading in Vietnam, or terrorism in Iraq.

[Pirate Smile]

6. Thanks. Here is a key paragraph:

"There were signs, however, that Bush and Republicans in Congress were receiving more of the blame for the recent standoffs over such issues as Bush's judicial nominees and Social Security. Six in 10 respondents said Bush and GOP leaders are not making good progress on the nation's problems; of those, 67 percent blamed the president and Republicans while 13 percent blamed congressional Democrats. For the first time, a majority, 55 percent, also said Bush has done more to divide the country than to unite it."

67% blame Prez and Republicans v. 13% blame Democrats

I like those numbers.


edit to add - "80 U.S. troops and more than 700 Iraqis died in May alone amid a rash of bombings -- has been accompanied by rising gloom about the overall fight against terrorists."

I read this over the weekend and I pay attention but I was shocked to see it was 80 U.S. troops killed in May. There are truely hiding those numbers in the daily news cycles.

[Justice]

2. This poll makes me wonder if Bush is pushing SS private accounts

to divert attention from the war - not b/c he thinks he will be successful with private accounts.

[Erika]

5. My 65 year old friend told me a bit today

He is still partially self employed. He paid for some lumber from a vendor and asked the young clerk what he thought about privatization of SS. The young clerk said it was great and that he could earn far more from investment accounts than SS. My friend said "but who's going to pay the bill for me and my generation". The kid asked what he meant and my friend said that he is now drawing SS and is no longer paying in. Where is the money going to come from? The kid looked startled and my friend said it would come from higher taxes on the young that would far offset any possible earnings from a private account. The kid went back to the drawing board.

My friend also had his first physical under his Medicare coverage, and his true blue supplement. Total physical including EKG, etc. His total cost was $10.00. His Medicare and premium payment for true blue is $148.50 a month.

Prior to his entering Medicare he was paying $340.00 a month for private insurance with a $2,500.00 yearly deductible. Who will be paying for that?

[Inland]

4. Anyone else feeling a little Red Alert-y lately?

Is anthrax in the air? A little reichstag fire for us?