The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time. - Pres. G.W. Bush, Jan. 10, 2006
Thus, did Bush come to the altar pleading with Americans to heed the duty to prevent worse from happening. So, how did he do? 011107 Washington Post/ABC News poll: A majority of Americans oppose sending additional troops to Iraq as outlined by Pres. Bush in his nationally televised address Wednesday night, and just 1-in-3 Americans said the plan for more troops and a stepped up combat efforts by Iraqi forces make victory there more likely. The findings of the survey, conducted after Bushs primetime speech, represent an initial rebuke to the White House goal of generating additional public support for the mission in Iraq. The poll found that 61% of Americans oppose sending more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, with 52% saying they strongly oppose the plan. Just 36% said they back the presidents new proposal. Bush fared better among the 42% of Americans who actually watched the speech. Among that group, 47% support sending more troops, while 51% oppose. But the President's supporters were disproportionately represented among the audience. Democrats almost universally oppose Bush's plan. In the poll, 94% of Democrats said they were against sending more troops. Republicans were far more supportive, with 73% Bush's plan. But nearly a quarter of Republicans in the poll said they opposed more troops, and those signs of dissent with the president's party are being echoed by some Republican lawmakers. Although majorities of men and women oppose sending more troops to Iraq, there is a gender gap on that issue: 56% of men oppose the president's plan while 66% of women oppose it. Women also are more likely to support efforts in Congress to cut off funding, with 57% saying they would back Democratic moves to do so compared to 48% of men. Sixty percent of Americans between ages 18 and 39 support cutting off funding, compared to 51% of those between 40 and 59 and 43% of Americans over age 60. This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by phone Jan. 10, among a random national sample of 502 adults. The results have a 4.5-point error margin. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011100 282.html <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR200701110 0282.html> The right wing propaganda that troop withdrawal is an extremist, anti-war, anti-patriotic 9/11 position is conclusively dead. Finally. This is not simply about more troops in 2003 versus more troops in 2007. Trying to make this a Blue vs Red fight misses the point. Again. Repeatedly, in numerous polls over the past year, Americans of all ages, gender and political persuasion said this is a mainstream issue, and the White House continues to act opposite of public support, as well as diplomatic and military experts. It can escalate war, but wars without public support are not sustainable. In his wooden performance devoid of passion last night, the Decider recalled the ghost of LBJ and Richard Nixon. Yes, defeat would be a disaster for the United States. But how can more failed strategy become success? This may be a bloodier year than Pres. Bush warned in his speech, and the GOP is not the only victim. Americans are not happy with defeat, but they are not eager to replay the Alamo. - KwC
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