US public backs Bush to go it alone

Guardian ^ | 2/12/03

[areafiftyone]

President George Bush appeared to have put one of the final domestic preparations for war into place yesterday as American public opinion wheeled behind the administration in support of an invasion of Iraq even without United Nations approval.

In a Washington Post and ABC News poll, the latest of a cluster of opinion polls since Colin Powell, the secretary of state, presented his evidence against Iraq at the UN security council, 57% of those questioned backed an invasion of Iraq in the face of UN opposition if "some US allies such as Great Britain, Australia and Italy" supported Washington.

In a sign that Britain's support is more crucial than ever to Mr Bush, US opinion surveys showed that solid support for military action depended on having Washington's closest allies by its side.

Without that "coalition of the willing", American public backing for the invasion dropped to 50%, but that still represented a significant increase from the 37% who backed such action in December. Among those who watched Mr Powell, there was 55% support for going ahead without UN blessing, against 41% support among those who did not see the presentation.

The public say they trust Mr Powell on the Iraq issue more than they trust the president himself. The increase in enthusiasm for action was steepest among those who had seen Mr Powell's performance. A Time magazine survey found that more than seven in 10 Americans think he made a strong case for war. In the Washington Post poll, 63% of those questioned thought the US had made its case for getting rid of Saddam Hussein, compared with only 48% who thought so in January .

The boost will help Mr Bush in his current diplomatic game of bluff with his opponents on the security council, led by France. US and British officials believe that French opposition will ultimately crumble once it is clear that Paris is faced with the choice of joining the US drive to war or accepting a highly damaging rift in the UN and a significant blow to its relevance.

France and its supporters have been counting on the fact that domestic support in both the US and Britain for a war is heavily dependent on Washington and London securing another UN resolution approving military action.

A Newsweek poll also found a 10-point jump in support for military force to 60% over the past few days.

That number jumped to 85% if the US had the "full support of the security council". It dropped to 50% if those questioned were specifically asked their position if the US only had support of "one or two of its major allies". If the US did not even have those allies (of which Britain is universally seen as the closest and most important) support dropped to 37%, with 59% opposed to military action.

Mr Powell's appearance last Wednesday also seems to have helped stem the haemorrhage of domestic approval of Mr Bush's performance as president. In the Washington Post poll, his ratings rose to 64% from 59% in late January.

According to the Washington Post poll, the support for war remains far firmer than the opposition. Two-thirds of those who were in favour of an invasion said there was little chance they would change their minds. But more than half of all the opponents of military action conceded they were wavering and were open to persuasion.

The growing unilateralist temper of US public opinion underlined the threat to Tony Blair's domestic position as British voters accept the case against Saddam Hussein, but not the prospect of early military action to disarm him.

The prime minister is battling against the grain of public opinion - as well as a large section of MPs, activists and trade unions. But after months of voter volatility over Iraq, No 10 can take comfort from the contradictory responses that suggest the public could be swung behind military action, especially if it has UN sanction.

That remains a crucial difference between US public opinion and the wider international community.

The latest poll published in yesterday's Times showed by 57% to 34% that voters are not persuaded that Washington and London have made a convincing case for military action, even though (by 61% to 34%) they accept that Saddam Hussein poses a threat to Britain.

To underline how uncertain voters feel, 86% of those interviewed for the Times in a poll by Populus feel the weapons inspectors need more time, while 47% to 46% also accept that their task has been made "impossible" - the same ratio as trusts Mr Blair to take the right decision even though a bare majority (51%) regard him as "George Bush's poodle".

A Channel 4 News poll last night revealed high levels of public scepticism, including the belief that the US itself is the main threat to world peace (32%) and North Korea more dangerous than Iraq. Yet 62% say they would back military action if a majority of the UN security council supported it.

[areafiftyone]

Let me tell you what has helped Bush. People in the U.S. are so sick France and Germany opposing Bush and also those anti-american commie peacniks. The more they protest the more Americans are turned off of them and will turn to Bush. So please keep it up peaceniks - Bush's rating will go thru the roof before you're thru! HEH HEH!

[mystery-ak]

Why do they continue to say that the US would go it alone...last I heard (on the Beltway Boys) we had 34 countries with us.

[chiefqc]

It's so nice to have adults in charge of the peoples house again.

GO GET THEM GWB.

[areafiftyone]

Apparently the stupid media considers the other European contries insignificant. I guess they only consider Europe as England, France and Germany.

[Publius Maximus]

Mr Powell's appearance last Wednesday also seems to have helped stem the haemorrhage of domestic approval of Mr Bush's performance as president. In the Washington Post poll, his ratings rose to 64% from 59% in late January.

Keep this in mind - a drop from 61% to 57% approval, in other words a 4% drop, is now a "haemmorage".

[ez]

To underline how uncertain voters feel, 86% of those interviewed for the Times in a poll by Populus feel the weapons inspectors need more time, while 47% to 46% also accept that their task has been made "impossible"

Some people want to continue "impossible" inspections. These people have not not been told that time is important...that Saddam is moving his WMDs out to Syria and that Iraqis die every day in his torture chambers. These people need to be shown the truth...I blame the press.

The press has not reported that Iraq is a socialist state, does not detail Saddams human rights abuses, and does not publicize the fact that weapons are moving out of Iraq, into the hands of radical Islamists.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

"Let's roll!"

[ensign]

Please! I'm English and proud of it. Don't insult me with the definition "european" ;-)

[Free Fire Zone]

US public backs Bush to go it alone

I can definitely get behind that. Get GWB an M-16, quick! Now let's get those congresscritters to volunteer to go with him!

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

On September 11, 2001 events took place that changed the lives of every American.

Angel's Working Overtime

We couldn't believe the hatred they had, the actions they took made the World so sad.

They thought it would break the American Pride, little did they know we hold it deep inside.

Thinking of all who died made the World so blue, but rest assured, God gave them a job to do.

They have new titles than they had with us, they are now called Angels, nothing less.

They were Angels all along given to you as a gift, now they are everywhere, helping our spirits lift.

An Angel, God is always sending, cause the human heart always needs mending.

They are running around sending Hope, Peace and Love. All of God's messages from above.

I know they will give you a little sign, telling you they are now Angel's Working Overtime.

Mrs. Stacie ©

For anyone experiencing a personal loss; this day will never be far from our thoughts and memories.

This is to honor the brave, gifted and precious lives that were lost.

The World Trade Center

The Pentagon

American Airlines Flt 11

United Airlines Flt 175

United Airlines Flt 93

The Families of all onboard The U.S.S. Cole

New York City Fire Department

Port Authority Police Department

New York City Police Department

[E.G.C.]

KING GEORGE BUSH THE SECOND, MEMBER SINCE FEBRUARY 12, 2003.

[Teacher317]

Exactly my question. Bump.

[LTCJ]

Do you people have eyes and ears? Where is this evidence that iraq has weapons of mass destruction anyway?

Hmmm. Well, you could ask an eye witness, such as an Iranian or a Kurd, if you could find a survivor.

Eyes and ears, indeed.

Stupidity is not a virtue, son.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

A troll using the tag line option, must mean you read us alot. We are the minority!!! Go crawl back in your underground pathetic leftist rock. bye bye!

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Double swing shifts and thinkin of troll lefties had me have the wrong word on my mind!

TYPO CORRECTION...

WE ARE THE MAJORITY!!!

[dc-zoo]

Why don't you go crawl back under your rock lefty. Another spineless and gutless supporter of sadam hussein.

[Overtaxed]

Zot!

[Teacher317]

Do you people have eyes and ears?

It takes more than senses, friend. It takes analytical skills, too.

Where is this evidence that iraq has weapons of mass destruction anyway?

The fact that they cannot account for the whereabouts of thousands of tons of weapons that they are forbidden to have. Don't you read your beloved UN's reports?

Do you people know anything of the middle east other than what you hear from the governnment and TV. I think this "war" in Iraq might have something to do with the fact that Iraq has the second largest amount of oil in the middle east.

Oh, well, if YOU think so, then it must be!

Not the fact that they're terroists or they torture there people and the like.

How fascinating that you admit these are facts, but apparently wish the people of Iraq would continue to suffer under such oppression. How mean-spirited of you.

The Iraqi government has no know links with Al Qaeda terrorists.

Don't you watch the news? Your hero Osama just said there was.

Furthermore when Iraq did kill its own people with biological agents it was in the 80s when the U.S. government offically supported then in the Iraq-Iran war.

If we did, we were wrong to do so. Now we are going to correct our mistake and relieve the suffering of millions of our brothers in the human race. Why are you so terrified of that?

Seriously, open your eyes people.

Seriously, open your heart to the needless suffering of the powerless Iraqi people.

[Interesting Times]

If this was really about oil, wouldn't it be simpler to take over Kuwait or Venezuela?