Posted on 01/22/2004 9:04:52 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON -
Public support for the war in Iraq (news - web sites) remains strong, with almost two-thirds of the American public saying that going to war was the right decision, a poll out Thursday found.
The number who said going to war was the right decision, 65 percent, is about the same number who felt that way in December, soon after the capture of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), according to the poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
More than 500 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq.
The Pew poll found the public believes President Bush (news - web sites) is striking about the right balance in advocating the United States' interests overseas. Almost half said Bush is "about right" in the amount that he pushes U.S. interests overseas. The remainder were evenly split between feeling he is too aggressive or not aggressive enough.
Almost half, 46 percent, said Bush gives an appropriate amount of attention to the concerns of U.S. allies, while 30 percent said not enough attention was paid to their concerns.
The partisan divide on the war with Iraq is growing after it diminished when Saddam was captured.
An overwhelming number of Republicans think going to war was the right decision, while two-thirds of independents feel that way. Only about four in 10 Democrats said it was the right decision to go to war in Iraq.
The poll of 1,503 adults was taken Jan. 6-11 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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On the Net:
Pew Research Center: http://www.people-press.org
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