March 12, 2007

Poll: Bush Not Doing Enough For Iraq Vets

President's Approval Rating Inches Up, But Most Americans Still Pessimistic About Iraq

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(CBS)  After a week of Congressional hearings investigating reports of shoddy treatment of veterans at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, most Americans are critical of the Bush administration's efforts for the wounded soldiers returning from the Iraq War, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds.

Three out of four — 76 percent of — Americans do not think the Bush administration has done enough to care for these veterans. A majority of Republicans agree with all Americans overall on this issue.

Monday, the Army forced its surgeon general, Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, to retire, officials said, making him the third high-level official to lose his job over poor outpatient treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.


HAS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION DONE ENOUGH FOR IRAQ WAR VETS?

Yes
17 percent
No
76 percent

Fewer Americans are leery of putting more American troops in harm's way by sending additional troops to Iraq. Though 59 percent of Americans still oppose President Bush's recent decision to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, 36 percent now favor that decision — a slight increase from last month and a rise of 7 points since January.

SENDING MORE THAN 20,000 ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO IRAQ

Now
Favor
36 percent
Oppose
59 percent

February 2007
Favor
33 percent
Oppose
63 percent

January 2007
Favor
29 percent
Oppose
66 percent

Instead, most Americans — 56 percent — favor decreasing or removing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq. Seventeen percent of Americans think current U.S. troop levels in Iraq should be maintained, while 22 percent think more troops should be added.

Read the complete results of this CBS News/New York Times poll (11 pages)

Assessing The War

As the Iraq War enters its fifth year, optimism about the prospects for a successful resolution is now at its lowest level so far. Only one in 10 Americans believe the United States is very likely to succeed in Iraq. Thirty-four percent of Americans think success is somewhat likely, but more than half — 53 percent — believe the prospect for success in Iraq is not very or not at all likely.

WILL THE U.S. SUCCEED IN IRAQ?

Now
Very Likely
11 percent
Somewhat likely
34 percent
Not very/at all likely
53 percent

February 2007
Very likely
13 percent
Somewhat likely
37 percent
Not very/at all likely
47 percent

March 2006
Very likely
15 percent
Somewhat likely
36 percent
Not very/at all likely
47 percent

There has been a drop even among Republicans when it comes to optimism about the war’s outcome. Nineteen percent of Republicans think success in Iraq is very likely — down 10 points from last month. A majority of Republicans continue to believe success in Iraq is at least somewhat likely. Democrats and independents disagree.

Just 29 percent of Americans think the war is going even somewhat well for the United States, though this is up slightly from last month's assessment.

Rather than engage in a military conflict with Iran over Iraq, Americans seem more inclined to look to Iran for help in providing stability to Iraq. A slight majority of Americans — 51 percent — believe the United States should request the support of Iraq's neighbors in the Middle East, such as Iran and Syria, even if the governments in those countries have been unfriendly or hostile to the United States in the past.

SHOULD THE U.S. REQUEST THE SUPPORT OF IRAN AND SYRIA?

Now
Yes
51 percent
No
40 percent

February 2007
Yes
46 percent
No
46 percent

December 2006
Yes
51 percent
No
40 percent

Looking back, most Americans think the U.S. should have stayed out of Iraq in the first place. Just 39% of Americans think the U.S. did the right thing in taking military action against Iraq, while 56% believe it should have stayed out. Those numbers have been generally consistent for the past year.


President George W. Bush

The President’s job approval rating has risen to 34 percent in this poll, its highest level since November 2006.

BUSH'S JOB APPROVAL RATING

Now
Approve
34 percent
Disapprove
58 percent

February 2007
Approve
29 percent
Disapprove
61 percent

The increase is due almost entirely to an uptick in approval among Republicans; 75 percent now approve, up from 65 percent last month.

BUSH'S JOB APPROVAL RATING BY PARTY

Now
Total
34 percent
Republicans
75 percent
Democrats
8 percent
Independents
28 percent

February 2007
Total
29 percent
Republicans
65 percent
Democrats
6 percent
Independents
27 percent



For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.


This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,362 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone March 7-11, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment See all 72 Comments
by bluestardad March 14, 2007 10:29 AM EDT
November 7, 2006 Democrats elected to House and Senate on platform of getting America out of Iraq War!

President Bush announces 21,000 Surge in Troops in Iraq which escalates war!

Democrats approve surge but pass non binding resolution against war.

Democrats talk cannot find consensus on Iraq, Refuse to cut funding for war!

Permanent American bases being constructed in Iraq for indefinite U.S. presents!

Walter Reed hospital scandal breaks on News Cast where wounded soldiers are living in rat infested broken rooms.

Democrats approve war funding request and ad more money, remove amendment requiring notification of Congress Before attacking Iran because if Israeli concerns!

FBI announces private citizens have been spied on with Patriot Act and abuses have been perpetrated upon the American People.

Justice Department fires U.S. Attorneys for political reasons.

Democrats in positions of Leadership, from the County Leadership to the Leadership of the Congress that do not execute the will of the people, must be removed from their Leadership Positions and replaced with someone that will effectively execute the office in which they are trusted.

CONGRESS FIDDLES WHILE IRAQ BURNS AND BUSH RUNS AMOK!

Write your Representatives and Senators! OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE BEING TRAMPLED ON BY THIS CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION!

http://www.visi.com/j
uan/congress/
Here is the House Speakers email address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

Reply to this comment
by sclaires March 14, 2007 12:25 AM EDT
I agree that Bush is not doing enough to support and help our wounded and tramatized veterans. He is taking money from military health care and using it to pay for HIS war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I wish that I was on the "panel" to investigate military hospitals and the VA facilities. I could point out a lot of problems that exist at this time. I was a civilian employee at an army base until I was forced to retire on disability due to harassment and a chronic medical condition. Now I open my mouth via my fingers on anything that I feel needs commenting on. I honestly do not see how Bush can be Commander in Chief of the military since all he did was avoid military service.
Reply to this comment
by sjc_1 March 13, 2007 10:53 PM EDT
When I see wounded veterans and the new oil deal that give most of the wealth to the oil companies for the next 30 years, I start to wonder what they were fighting for.
Reply to this comment
by bluestardad March 13, 2007 6:13 PM EDT
YOU CAN SAY HIS APPROVAL RATINGS ARE UP BUT BAGHDAD BOB IS MORE BELIEVEABLE THAN YOU ARE!

The real issue is the Supplemental Funding of the War that may not pass congress, and this mismanaged war from the lack War Planning to the Care of the Wounded at Walter Reed. American Politicians listened to the Saudi Arabians, Oil Companies, and Israeli NEOCONS, and fought this war when the real war was against Afghanistan and Al Qaeda! Now Bush is funding under the table Al Qaeda in Lebanon and his family friends the Saudis are funding the Sunnis in Iraq killing our troops! His FBI is abusing the Civil Liberties of American Citizens under the Patriot act and the Justice department is firing Attorneys that do not prosecute Democrats for Republican claims of voter Election fraud!

CONGRESS FIDDLES WHILE IRAQ BURNS AND BUSH RUNS AMOK!

Write your Representatives and Senators! SHOW THEM YOUR DISDAIN OF THEIR COWARDOUS ACTIONS WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE BEING KILLED AND OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE BEING TRAMPLED ON BY THIS CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION! http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Here is the House Speakers email address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
Reply to this comment
by scott4261 March 13, 2007 5:13 PM EDT
The next president will be a Democrat. Count on it (and those of you who have Halliburton stock, I'd cash it in before the election!)!
Reply to this comment
by phil-in-fin March 13, 2007 4:49 PM EDT
75% of Republicans approve of how Bush does his job?

Seriously, who could believe such a thing, unless 75% of Republicans were idiots.
Reply to this comment
by mgpm-2009 March 13, 2007 4:48 PM EDT
Can someone please, PLEASE, explain to me how the military continues to support this jackass? How and why????
Reply to this comment
by don7699 March 13, 2007 2:39 PM EDT
The neo-con method of support for the troops is a Bumper Sticker and a Yellow Ribbon. Everything else is meaningless lip service. Brave men and women die in lonely places so the neo-con can drive their SUV in the USA.
Reply to this comment
by homespunlady March 13, 2007 2:24 PM EDT
cbville72: Let's make your confusion a little less.
Are we STILL in Serbia?
How many Americans DIED or even were injured in Serbia?
Is Serbia STABLE?
Is Serbia Still in a Civil War?
Which strategy worked and which failed?

This is a homework assignment that even our undereducated middleschoolers might be able to do. Even if they can't find Iraq and Serbia on the map. So Please learn to read and get back with the answers.
Reply to this comment
by homespunlady March 13, 2007 2:10 PM EDT
Pride cometh before the fall....Anyone remember where that saying came from?
Whatever happened to that Bush "dirty word" diplomacy? Glad to see some common sense returning to this county. Unfortunately it's come down to places like Uraguay and Mexico to tell George to shape up and they have their own agendas to attend to.
Next time let's elect an intelligent President that kisses up to Big Business and Bankers a little less.
Reply to this comment
by clestes-2009 March 13, 2007 2:03 PM EDT
Here is another result of the ****-POOR planning by Cheney, Rummy and Feith's gang. They never had a viable plan for Iraq. Their arrogance, ignorance, greed blinded them to all warnings of long term consequences of their invasion.

They were warned by the military, former ambassadors, middle east leaders what the results would be if they invaded with too few troops and no post invasion plans. But no, they were too *** stupid to listen to anyone.

These neocons have made millions off this war and every dollar they have should be taken from them and used to support the troops who have sacrificed their lives and limbs as a result of their mistakes. Take all the money Haliburton has made and donate it to the Veterans Administration. The same for the personal bank account of Bush,Cheney, Feith, Rumsfeld, etc.
Reply to this comment
by duhrer March 13, 2007 1:57 PM EDT
Talk about "slow bleed". Our military is over there (as well as our national guard). Slowly, by attrition, they die or come home mangled beyond a "normal" life. When our military is reduced overseas by this police action ('cause it's not a war folks, so stop calling it that), and their morale is weakended by how this government treats its returning heroes, who will defend the home front when there is a real invasion?
Reply to this comment
by frankly6 March 13, 2007 1:23 PM EDT


You mean to tell me that "support the troops" was just another hollow GOP bumper sticker? I'm shattered!


Reply to this comment
by fegner March 13, 2007 12:17 PM EDT
The issue is not whether we will succeed in Iraq. From the perspective of the NeoCons the Iraq war has ALREADY SUCCEEDED: Succeeded in looting the U.S. treasury and moving vast amounts of cash into the hands of war contractors, succeeded in creating continuing emergencies to justify weakening the U.S. Constitution and putting U.S. troops in Iraq where they are not only in a good position to continue the invasion into Iran, but also endangered, which serves as justification to do so, succeeded in lowering expectations to the point that many Americans are discouraged with even the Democrats who seem impotent to control the BUSH/CHENEY Crime Family.

JOB APPORVAL RATINGS!? They%u2019re laughing at us. What do they have to lose at this point? They%u2019ll finish their term and fall blissfully into the arms of their private sector buddies they have served so well. Job approval polls are silly at this point.

What is needed is to prepare to begin the prosecution process the minute they%u2019re out of office. Don't let them retire to permanent vacations on their ranches. Investigate, indict, prosecuteunder both U.S. Laws and in the International Courts!! Let the Courts handle whatever misbehavior has occurred in The U.S. and other countries (such as torture and secret prisons).

The NeoCons don%u2019t read the polls. They don't care. PRESENTLY THEY%u2019RE ABOVE THE LAW. Only the prospect of future prosecution for criminal behavior will have any effect on men such as these.
Reply to this comment
by rbfain March 13, 2007 12:11 PM EDT
How can he? The good people that say we killed someone that was not at war are lettinf the USA go to Hell. Just pull out and drop the big one and kill tham all, men, weman, and kids. Little ones get to be big ones. So all you babies shut up and lets get on with it.
Reply to this comment
by musty2u March 13, 2007 12:11 PM EDT
Husker, I'm just not greedy. Did you check HAL today; up over one percent on the first half hour. Sorry if some people didn't make any money on this, but, the day hasn't finished.
As to the tax cuts issue; that is a dead call as if you care to check out what taxes were still being paid by the "plutocrats" got. At the expense of armor? C'mon. We have a couple contractors right here in North Carolina that are going 24/7 putting out the vehicle modification as well at companies making body armor itself. Hey, and do you remember the old clunky flak jacket we wore? These current troops don't have it very bad. Not bad at all.
But, the ability to whine and cry and b*itch about every little thing has increased exponentially.
Reply to this comment
by omega39-2009 March 13, 2007 12:06 PM EDT
""The scandal over treatment of outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center has focused attention on the Army's decision to privatize the facilities support workforce at the hospital, a move commanders say left the building maintenance staff undermanned.

Some Democratic lawmakers have questioned the decision to hire IAP Worldwide Services, a contractor with connections to the Bush administration and to KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary.""

It's time for Reagan lovers to admit that privatizing more often than not results in cronie contracts and the very waste and inefficiency that they accuse the government of.
Reply to this comment
by huskerarmy March 13, 2007 12:00 PM EDT
Musty, Don't kid yourself. Halliburton didn't get shorted one red cent while they continued to rip off the people of this great nation. And the wealthiest plutocrats got a tax cut even though it meant a burgeoning deficit and our troops still don't have the armor they need. This isn't some sort of bureaucratic coincidence. This is completely by design.
Reply to this comment
by lonisilvers March 13, 2007 11:59 AM EDT
I think Busch just doesn't care about the lives being lost over there. His advisors, it seems, have reconsidered our position over there and have tried to modify this. However, Busch, it seems forgetting this is a democracy -for the people, by the people, is just using his position and overriding other decisions. Of course, this is just my opinion. This war is futile-we've been over there long enough; stop giving it up for all the foreigners and start concentrating on our US citizens a little more. English, not Spanish or other languages should be THE language. Enough of this "press 1" for English.
Reply to this comment
by lonisilvers March 13, 2007 11:58 AM EDT
I think Busch just doesn't care about the lives being lost over there. His advisors, it seems, have reconsidered our position over there and have tried to modify this. However, Busch, it seems forgetting this is a democracy -for the people, by the people, is just using his position and overriding other decisions. Of course, this is just my opinion. This war is futile-we've been over there long enough; stop giving it up for all the foreigners and start concentrating on our US citizens a little more. English, not Spanish or other languages should be THE language. Enough of this "press 1" for English.
Reply to this comment
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