Poll: Less than half of Americans think U.S. can win in Iraq

CNN ^ | March 13, 2007

[aruanan]

Poll: Less than half of Americans think U.S. can win in Iraq

Didn't less than half of Americans think the Colonies couldn't beat Britain?

[kabar]

Kabar, what say you? Is this true that the DOS is responsible for getting the word out about the positive things going on in Iraq? Here is a post showing some of the positive things happening in Iraq? It's such a shame so few Americans know about the progress.

Not really. The DOS is primarily responsible for defending and explaining our foreign policy to foreign governments and their people. The DOS's Bureau of Public Diplomacy [formerly USIA before it was incorporated into DOS] handles much of the public relations side of diplomacy including dealing with the MSM, foreign and domestic. That said, the State Department is responsible for communicating positive developments that are being achieved in Iraq for those areas under DOS, including USAID projects.

Since there are so many USG agencies engaged in Iraq, I would hope that the WH has established some sort of joint office that would handle these duties. I agree that we are losing the propaganda war, but the buck stops at the WH.

[LS]

In a similar poll yesterday, however, of Florida and Michigan, one of the questions was something to the effect of, "Is the U.S. doing ENOUGH to win?" and nearly 60% said "No." In other words, a large % of those who say we "can't" win think it's because we aren't being RUTHLESS enough!!

[MinorityRepublican]

The biggest problem is that we're being Christian, we're the "good guys".

We're certainly not like the Russians who'll shoot up everybody in a village.

[LS]

I agree, but even then, there is an efficient way to do it and an bad way. The Russians were too thuggish. Even Alexander the Great left some villages alone and showed them favor as a means of divide and conquer.