Five years have gone by and public opinion regarding the War in Iraq is ambivalent. The Washington Post is using a new poll to advocate for withdrawal
Five years after the start of the Iraq war, American public opinion has solidified around the notion that the war was not worth fighting and that the United States is not making significant progress toward restoring civil order there.
For more than three years, majorities in Washington Post-ABC News polling have called the war's benefits not worth the costs. And the percentages calling the war a mistake have been higher than those saying it has been worth it since before the 2004 presidential election. Two-thirds in the latest poll said the war was not worth fighting, including 51 percent who felt so "strongly."
Addressing a Gallup poll, Frank Newport concludes
President Bush has not convinced the majority of Americans to agree with his apparently deeply-held conviction that invading Iraq was the right decision.
But here's the problem: Back when the War began, 72% of Americans, and 70% of Congress were all for it. So close to three-quarters of America thought it was the right decision at the time.
But the problem with such a monumental decision is that you can not take it back so easily. Once you have taken that step, you have to go forward, you have to remain committed.
American's have to remember that it was we who decided to go this route and pulling out now, especially at a time when we have gained a strong foothold, would be a disaster.
Fortunately, many may have buyers remorse, but they are not willing to abandon Iraq either.
In the Gallup poll, when asked "Do you think the United States has an obligation to establish a reasonable level of stability in Iraq before withdrawing all of it's troops?" 65 percent said yes while only 20% said no
When asked "Do you think al Qaeda would more likely use Iraq as a base for its terrorist operations if the US keeps it troops in Iraq or withdraws its troops from Iraq?" 63% answered Withdraws while only 20% answered Keeps
When asked "Do you think a greater number of Iraqis would die from violence in that country if the US keeps its troops in Iraq or withdraws it troops from Iraq?" 50% answered Withdraws while only 27% answered Keeps
So it is pretty clear that while Americans may want to shift the blame for getting us in Iraq to the President, most people understand the need to remain until it's fixed.
Most people understand commitment.
Some don't
So when I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on Day One: I will end this war. Not because politics compels it. Not because our troops cannot bear the burden– as heavy as it is. But because it is the right thing to do for our national security, and it will ultimately make us safer.
In order to end this war responsibly, I will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq.
But most people don't believe that would be the right thing to do.
And Hillary Clinton's plan is the same
Referring to Clinton's plan to withdraw one to two combat brigades per month, Dobbs then asked directly: "She is going to stick to this plan, whatever the realities on the ground?"
"She has said that this is her plan. She has said what her goals are and those are the direction," Feinstein said.
"The answer is yes!" Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson jumped in.
"My question is … whether this is her plan and she is going to stick to it regardless?" Dobbs asked again.
"You're asking a question. I'm giving you a one-word answer so we can be clear about it. The answer is 'Yes'," Wolfson said.
But there are unanswered reservations that people have
"The soldiers need to be home," says Tally, calling herself "torn" on the question of how quickly to pull out. "There's a lot of destruction, a lot of death, and it needs to stop. At the same time, I'm concerned about the people there, the families there. … Those people are just going to be left vulnerable."
..."You cannot go into a country and destroy everything and leave it in chaos without helping them rebuild some kind of infrastructure," says Jennifer Curry, 59, one of the Delaware residents who joined the roundtable discussion. She supports withdrawing U.S. troops but only when Iraq is reasonably stable.
As do the majority of Americans
It's a matter of following through on your promise.
It's a matter of keeping your word.
It's a matter of commitment.
