Poll: Military Has Iraq Doubts

Fox News ^ | Saturday, October 16, 2004 | Associated Press

[CityOntheHill]

WASHINGTON — Members of the military and their families say the Bush administration underestimated the number of troops needed in Iraq and put too much pressure on inadequately trained National Guard (search) and reserve forces, according to a poll released Saturday. The National Annenberg Election Survey (search) found that 62 percent in the military sample said the administration didn't send an adequate number of troops to Iraq. And 59 percent said too much of a burden has been put on the National Guard and the reserves when regular forces should have been expanded instead. Family members were more critical of the administration's Iraq policy than those on active duty. This critical view comes from a military group that has a more favorable view of President Bush, Iraq, the economy and the nation's direction than Americans in general. A slight majority of the military and families, 51 percent, said showing photos of flag-draped coffins being returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware would increase respect for the troops. The Pentagon has refused to release government photos of the coffins, saying it has begun enforcing a policy installed in 1991 intended to respect the privacy of the families of the dead soldiers.

[CityOntheHill]

What is with Fox publishing this? Doesn't this undermine the war effort?

[rjmeagle]

Fox has been p-ssing me off lately. I think they got scared after Rathergate. Fox accentuated the negative in the Annenberg poll and not the positive.

[traderrob6]

HMMMMMM, wonder why they would vote for W 67% to 33% over Kerry

[MEG33]

Wonder why?

[Americanwolf]

It does not nesecarrily undermine the war effort. All it is is a poll that states that some military families feel that the we did not give enough force to Iraq to start with. This is a poll being done a week after we have been hearing the same message from the left that there were not enough troops or we were undermanned. I think polls that are published right not are crap anyway beacause there is too much ability to tamper or skew the polls. In fact this is what I think of the polls.

[traderrob6]

"sarcasm"

[MamaB]

Well, I have seen data which states that the military supports President Bush by a huge margin, they think the war is in the right direction by a huge margin, etc. Wonder which data is right.

[Americanwolf]

in talking to friend still in the military and a couple of Guys from Free republic that are currently over in Iraq they do say it is about 3-1 in favor of Bush. So I could see traderob6's data being correct.

[mrsmith]

Did Fox mention that Adam Clymer is the political director of this poll?

That only 4% complained about the frequent deployments?

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1246807/posts

Service Men and Women Upbeat on Bush, War In Iraq, Economy and Intend To Vote (excellent must read)
Annenberg Public Policy Center ^ | October 15, 2004 | Adam Clymer


Posted on 10/15/2004 11:30:27 PM CDT by Former Military Chick


Same study..different emphasis.

[MEG33]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,135591,00.html

More Military Members Trust Bush

[MEG33]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,135591,00.html

More Military Members Trust Bush

Welcome to FR..We search for ALL the news

[CityOntheHill]

thanks!

[dakine]

"That only 4% complained about the frequent deployments?"

that number seems a little (ok, a lot!) low.... bitchin' and moanin' is 2nd nature for military folk, doesn't mean the duties aren't being done....

[CityOntheHill]

I know it's dangerous to my health but I lurk on a few li(e)beral blog and news sites. Just like to see what the enemy (within) is up to! The pinkos over at the daily kos are claiming that the Kerry draft talk will work, that soccer moms (oops, security moms:)) are scared youknow-whatless by the kerry lie about the President bringing back the draft. I'm kinda new around here, but I'm nervous this shameless strategy by Kerry and co might just work, especially with news of casualties etc. Don't want to sound defestist,but the President needs to keep hitting back on this. Any thoughts?

[mrsmith]

"Fifteen percent of the service members said the most unsatisfactory thing about military life was being away from family, and another 4 percent cited frequent deployments. Eleven percent said low pay was the worst problem, 6 percent said the public’s attitude toward the military was, 5 percent cited the military bureaucracy, 4 percent cited too heavy a work schedule, and 4 percent cited being in Iraq or risking death. Among family members, the service member’s being away from home was cited by 23 percent, and another 5 percent cited frequent deployments. Next came being in Iraq and the risk of death at 16 percent. Low pay was cited by 11 percent."

Back when I was in any survey of us would have gotten about 100% negative responses about anything LOL!

Great bunch of professionals we have now. Noble even. It's like night and day compared to the old draft army.

[dakine]

I'm in a minority on this board about this election (I voted R, by absentee ballot already). 10% on one side, and 10% on the other will feel/think they are effected by who is elected as the next president. (meaning the other 80% could give a rat's patooie, who the next prez is)...

I see entertainment value in whatever the outcome....

[lepton]

And 59 percent said too much of a burden has been put on the National Guard and the reserves when regular forces should have been expanded instead.

I agree...especially after the war began. We should have been relaxing the cap a year and a half ago instead of half a year ago. That being said, it beats the pants off of most of the alternate plans.

[Kaslin]

See this thread

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1247127/posts Service Members, Families Say Pentagon Sent Too Few Troops to Iraq (Clymer Alert)