Poll: Americans Say Use More Force

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/28/opinion/polls/main546585.shtml ^

[optik_b]

(CBS) Most Americans have been surprised by how the war against Iraq has unfolded — and a majority believes the U.S underestimated the amount of resistance the coalition forces would face from the Iraqi Army. And as the conflict threatens to last longer than most Americans expected in the first few days of the war, increasing numbers say they want the U.S. military to use more force in dealing with Iraq.

Fifty-five percent believe the U.S. underestimated the resistance they would find from the Iraqi army; 37 percent say the U.S. correctly assessed how much resistance there would be.

As the conflict continues, more and more Americans say they want the U.S. to increase the amount of force it is using in Iraq. Nearly half now say that should be the U.S. military's response — up from just 20 percent less than a week ago.

A majority of Republicans believe the pre-war assessment of Iraqi resistance was accurate; a majority of both Democrats and Independents disagree, and think the U.S. underestimated the resistance. There are also some party differences when it comes to what the U.S. should be doing now — although pluralities of Republicans, Democrats and independents agree that more force is needed now. Support for using more force has increased among both men and women, but the sexes continue to think differently about this: 54 percent of men, but just 42 percent of women say the U.S. should use more force in Iraq.

Overall, Americans continue to approve of U.S. military action against Iraq — in this poll 77 percent approve of military action against Iraq, while 19 percent disapprove. Those figures have changed hardly at all since the war began, and remain somewhat higher than they were before the start of war.

[optik_b]

Looks like support for Military action is going up!

[ambrose]

For the love of god, could they please lay off the daily polling and focus groups for a change?

[merrin]

Actually, I like this one. I think we should shift our primary focus from avoiding Iraqi casualties to winning the war.

[Ebenezer]

To quote the 1993 motion picture "Gettysburg":

"Pour it on them, boys!"
"Give them the cold steel!"

[Conspiracy Guy]

100% of Americans on both sides of the issue wish that CBS would shut the truck up.

[wretchard]

The V Corps is not force limited so much as logistics limited. It hasn't even used the 3 brigades of 101 Airborne or the 82nd's 325th. That's a third of Frank's command that has yet to see action. The purpose of the advance to Baghdad was to pin down the IRG while Franks scooped up logistical bases. Right now the IRG can't rush north to Bashur to dislodge the 173rd AB because it has to stay put.

The arrival of 4 ID will add a requirement of 2,000 tons per day to the current minimum burden of 4,500 tons per day. It can't be used effectively until the logistics objectives which have now been seized, especially the port, are developed. Moving combat troops into a theater without the logistics is a mistake French Armies and the press make, like dropping 6,000 paratroopers into Dien Bien Phu without any logistical route to it. US Armies don't make that mistake.

[ez]

I don't think we expected Iraqi Secret Police to shell their own people in Basra or plant bombs in their own markets in Baghdad, or pretend to surrender then draw weapons, or hide behind women and children. If you want to call that underestimating the level of resistance, so be it.

[expatpat]

Yes, organizations like CBS are setting us up for a drop in these polls as the war continues.

[NetValue]

Use more force if there is more resistance. Make resistance futile. Drive the Iraqi forces toward the west. Once they flee Baghdad on the highway to Syria, create Highway of Death II.

[expatpat]

Good analysis, wretchard.

[ambrose]

I could care less whether the poll results are positive or negative. I am tired of the Clintonian "poll of the day" news story. We are at war. It is time to push this sort of horse manure aside and let our troops do their jobs.

[arielb]

well we remembered what happened in Mazar e sharif when al qaeda prisoners revolted. This is Afghanistan all over again and we were able to deal with it

[Ebenezer]

"War is war, and not popularity-seeking."
- General William Tecumseh Sherman

[Ancesthntr]

For the love of god, could they please lay off the daily polling and focus groups for a change?

All that the press can do is act like a bunch of spoiled little brats on a trip: "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?""Are we there yet?"

The media would do all of us a favor if they would STFU.

[arkfreepdom]

My goodness. Does nobody understand the strategy.

1. Insert force and secure it's location and supply routes.
2. Bring in supplies
3. Build up force more.
4. When the force is big enough kick the sh*& out of Baghdad.

It really is that simple and is classic warfare.

[Volunteer]

War is cruel and you cannot refine it.
William Tecumseh Sherman
I thought of the same quote when I read this. God & my ancestors forgive me, but the little firebug Sherman was right about the nature of war. It is a brutal business that is the last resort of all clear thinking people. It is sad that we were left with no other option in this case. But, I am 100% certain that the US forces will win and that they will do so with honor.

[CA Conservative]

Your arguments are quite cogent, and make an important point. The Chicken Littles in the press and on the left (I know, that's redundant) have been moaning about how our advance has been stopped, poor planning, yada, yada, yada...

The fact is, we have a large armored force within 50 miles of Baghdad, and the IRG cannot engage us without coming out into the open, getting slaughtered by our air power when they do. In the interim, we have seized a number of airfields and are quickly setting up forward supply depots that will allow us to support the march on Baghdad without a 500 mile logistical tail when the time comes. We are consolidating our forces, resting the troops, and allowing additional forces to deploy into their assigned locations. At the same time, we are dealing with the Fedayeen and other irregular forces as they reveal themselves.

I'm not saying that there haven't been a few surprises along the way, but nothing too dramatic. We are well in control of the field of battle, and we willmake our next move when WE are ready, not when the media thinks we should...

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Does this mean we move from the "Mother Of All Bombs" to the "Mother F***** Of All Bombs?"

If we are using maximum force, can we "super size" it?

[SquirrelKing]

"Yes, organizations like CBS are setting us up for a drop in these polls as the war continues."

No *&$#@ way! They wouldnt do somthing THAT diabolical! [wide-eyed innocence OFF]

[Contra]

I think "shock and awe" was more for Iraqis benefit than Americans (a psycological ploy) but Americans, spurred on by the media, got this picture of round the clock bombing and expectations of the war being over before it started (especially with the first strike against Saddam). The start of the war has been incremental, not all out, but I would expect the coalition to kick it up a notch now that it knows what it's up against. And I believe at some point, probably sooner than later (and especially if any WMD are used by Iraqis) you will still see "shock and awe."