Posted on 01/25/2003 5:02:46 PM PST by DrDeb
The credibility of the United Nations may be on the line in the War with Iraq. Yet, as the world awaits the January 27 report from inspectors, just 48% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the United Nations. Thirty-one percent (31%) have an unfavorable opinion while 21% are not sure.
In another sign of limited support for the UN, a question was asked about how the US should act if the United Nations "opposes taking military action against Iraq." Even if the world body goes on record opposing War, 46% of Americans would support the United States acting alone to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Only 36% said it would be better to co-operate with our allies and leave Hussein in power.
These results are from a national telephone survey of 1,000 adults conducted by Scott Rasmussen Public Opinion Research on January 22 and 23, 2003. The margin of error for the full sample is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
Please share your thoughts on the situation with Iraq.
Other survey results have found Americans overwhelmingly prefer to act with the support of allies. However, the questions typically imply that the choice is between acting alone to remove Hussein or working with others to remove him from power. That's a bit like asking about motherhood and apple pie. Obviously, if Hussein would be removed from power either way, Americans would prefer to work with allies.
In the real world, however, the President may be asked to make a tougher choice between going it alone to accomplish our objectives or working with allies and letting Hussein continue to rule Iraq. With that tougher choice in mind, only one-third of Americans are convinced that working with our allies is the higher priority.
This is consistent with other survey data collected in November. Americans strongly support President Bush's assertion of American leadership. Most (52%) say that, in the interest of co-operation, it would be better if our allies did what the United States wants more often. Just 20% took the opposite and said it would be better for America to do what our allies want more often. 23% took a middle ground and said neither approach would be better.
Ultimately, public reaction to events in Iraq will be determined by the success or failure of the policies. If the President fails to take action, it is likely that his approval ratings will tumble. A December survey found that sixty-three percent (63%) believed that if the United States fails to take military action, Saddam Hussein will become more of a threat to our country.
If the President does take action, the American public will measure the results rather than the rhetoric.
One other point moving modestly in the President's favor is that inspections have convinced more Americans that Iraq is housing weapons of mass destruction. Seventy-five percent (75%) now believe that Saddam Hussein and the government of Iraq have nuclear or biological Weapons of Mass Destruction. That's up from 69% earlier in the month.
Only 8% believe Hussein does not control such weapons.
-John F. Kennedy
History repeats itself (thanks to Samurai_Jack for the quote)
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