I know it doesn't feel like it most days, given the media's persistently dismal coverage of facts, but the message is slowly getting through. For the first time, a majority of those polled in the USA not only disapprove of Bush's performance AND believe the Iraq War was not worth fighting, but a 52% majority also believes that the Bush administration "intentionally misled" the public in going to war.
This is great news for all of us in the anti-Bush/anti-war movement! Our message is getting through! The next step is to demand some accountability!!!
From the ABC News/Washington Post survey:
Nearly 75 per cent of 1004 adults quizzed say the Bush administration has underestimated the challenges involved.The strangest part is this:
On Iraq specifically, 56 per cent say they disapprove of Mr Bush's work and 62 per cent say they think the United States has become bogged down in Iraq...
Fifty-three per cent say they think they insurgency was holding steady in strength and 24 per cent believed it was getting stronger.
The ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that a record 57 per cent also now say the administration intentionally exaggerated its pre-war evidence that Iraq possessed nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
Despite growing criticism of the administration's performance, nearly 60 per cent of those polled said they believe US forces should remain in place until civil order was restored in Iraq.
"Fifty-two per cent say they think the war has contributed to the long-term security of the United States, up five points from early June."So Bush & Co underestimated the challenge and made up the facts, but now the USA is bogged down and the Iraqis are mounting a sustained, if not growing, resistance... but not only should we STAY in Iraq, we are actually somehow SAFER? See the post below for more on THAT line of thought!
3 comments:
As a link via Atrios points out, it's also interesting that an increasing number of poll respondents identified themselves as "independent" rather than "Republican".
Talk about deserting a sinking ship. It's amazing how the herd mentality works, isn't it?
Mate - lets face it - the war is here for the next 15 years. you may not like it - the US may have stuffed up - but if they left now they will be way worse off - no one would take them seriously - and with China coming up around the inside bend there is no way the US is going to lose 'face' by leaving.
I disagree, Wadard.
I know the conventional wisdom is that "we cannot leave now", but seriously I think that's the best thing that can be done.
Ideally, it should be done with a massive UN presence ready to move in and fill the void until REAL elections (without anonymous candidates) can be held. But if that's not going to happen (and its very unlikely unless the Bushites change their anti-UN stance), the US should just pull out. Now.
This would leave no justification for any foreign "terrorists" to remain involved. Of course, the country would probably fracture along ethnic/tribal lines (Kurds, Sunnis and Shia) but that would be up to the Iraqis to sort out. If this involves further violence and deaths (which is not necessarily the way it has to be), the casualties surely would not be more than another 15 years of US presence!
I know this is not ideal, but I believe it is the best available solution. Juan Cole has been arguing for the UN solution as well.
Just because it doesn't seem possible AT THIS STAGE doesn't mean we shouldn't be arguing for it: like the neocons, we can also create our own reality to some extent!
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