Public's mixed feelings on war in Iraq continue

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), May, 2008

Now that the Iraqi War has marked its fifth anniversary, senior fellow and public opinion specialist Karlyn Bowman of the American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C., has an updated collection of survey data on public attitudes concerning the conflict.

Some 59% in a Gallup survey maintain the war in Iraq is a mistake; 60% indicate that the U.S. should set a timetable for removing troops. Policymakers should not jump the gun, though--only around 20% support immediate withdrawal.

In a Pew Research Center survey, the country was split evenly--with 48% saying that the U.S. military effort in Iraq was going fairly or very well and 48% maintaining it was going not too well or not well at all. This is a marked improvement from last year. One possible explanation comes from the same Pew survey which broke down specific areas of concern in Iraq, such as training Iraqi security forces, reducing civilian casualties, establishing democracy, etc. In every category, the percentage stating that the U.S. was making progress had increased from its previous asking last fall.

Pluralities of Americans believe that the surge is making progress. In a Gallup survey, 40% state the surge is making the situation better in Iraq; 38% claim it is making no difference; and 20% insist it is making things worse. This is up substantially from 2007 when a mere 17% replied the surge was making the situation better; 49% claimed it was having no impact; and 30% said it was making things worse.

Pres. George W. Bush, meanwhile, continues to receive low marks for his war efforts. In a CBS News-New York Times survey, 31% approved of his handling of the situation with Iraq. Generically, Democrats lead the Republicans as the party better able to subdue the crisis in Iraq. Specifically, though, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) leads Sen. Hillary Clin ton (D.-N.Y.) and, separately, Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) as the presidential candidate who could do a better job there.

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