Poll: More Think The "Surge" Is Helping

35% Say Iraq War Strategy Is Making Things Better, 70% Doubt Iraqi Government

(CBS)  With President Bush's top military and diplomatic advisers on Iraq due to deliver a major progress report on the president's "surge" strategy, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds that an increasing number of Americans believe the troop buildup in Iraq is having a positive impact.

U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus are expected to warn Congress on Monday that making any significant changes to the current war strategy will jeopardize the limited security and political progress made so far.

Later in the week, Mr. Bush plans a national address.

The poll finds 35 percent say the surge has made things better, up from 29 percent last month and 19 percent in July. Only 12 percent say it has made things worse, but nearly half see no change in either direction, according to the poll.

NOW: IMPACT OF U.S. TROOP SURGE

Made things better
35%
Made things worse
12%
No impact
45%

AUGUST, 2007: IMPACT OF U.S. TROOP SURGE

Made things better
29%
Made things worse
15%
No impact
46%

Belief that the U.S. is winning the war in Iraq has grown a bit since January. Still, that perception is well below the levels of early 2006, and most Americans continue to see the war as a stalemate.

NOW: WHO IS WINNING IN IRAQ?

The U.S.
24%
The insurgents
12%
Neither side
60%

JANUARY, 2006: WHO IS WINNING IN IRAQ?

The U.S.
36%
The insurgents
9%
Neither side
48%

On the political front, Americans overwhelmingly criticize the Iraqi government, the poll finds. Just 22 percent say the Iraqi government is meeting a relatively low bar - doing all it can realistically be expected do to bring about stability in Iraq. 70 percent say it is not meeting that standard.

On the military front, Americans' views of the impact of the "surge" strategy are divided by political affiliation. Fifty-six percent of Republicans think surge is making things better in Iraq, while only 19 percent of Democrats and 32 percent of Independents do.

When it comes to evaluating the Iraqi government, there is no partisan divide. Less than one in four Republicans say the Iraqi government is doing what it can.

The poll finds a long-term pessimism remains about the Iraqi government: a 53 percent majority thinks Iraq will never become a stable democracy. Almost no one thinks it will occur within a year or two.

WILL IRAQ EVER BECOME A STABLE DEMOCRACY?

Yes, in year or two
4%
Yes, but will take longer
42%
No, never
53%

The poll finds that, in retrospect, a majority of Americans view the war in Iraq as a mistake.

DID U.S. MAKE A MISTAKE GETTING INVOLVED IN IRAQ?

Yes
62%
No
34%

Eighty-six percent of Democrats and 68 percent of Independents say the war was a mistake, while 31 percent of Republicans agree, according to the poll.

The 62 percent figure is reminiscent of the numbers recorded in Gallup Polls in the early 1970’s when respondents were asked whether the U.S. made a mistake getting involved in Vietnam. Sixty-one percent thought the Vietnam war was a mistake in May, 1971, and 60 percent thought American involvement in Vietnam was a mistake in January, 1973, according to Gallup polls.

[starleo146]

How did it come to be that we do not have the kind of media coverage for Iraq that we had for Viet Nam? What ever happened to sitting around the 6:00 news and seeing body bags and soldiers dying? That shouldn''''t have changed. So many people find it too easy to avoid thinking about war.

"mudrose" kind of reminds me of "*** blossom"
Posted by gretagreen at 03:59 PM : Sep 10, 2007

I think our government has a hand in that. Something on the order we will not show the caskets of fallen military you see? We do not see a count of killed wounded either rolling across the bottom of your screen. The better question is why are our media falling into this trap and denying us this information so the war will look good, Propaganda.You tell me?

[clestes-2009]

Could the American people finally be waking up? It appears so.

[grazinggoat]

CBS NEws: ''''A poll of about 2,000 ordinary Iraqis by the BBC, in conjunction with ABC News and Japan''''s NHK, found that 70 percent believe security in the area covered by the troop surge has deteriorated in the last six months.''''

-Tell PetAreUs, that Iraqis can better sense the security in Iraq then him, and his aides moving around in Apache Choppers and Armored Tanks, and probing.
-The real probers have done their jobs of decent journalism and are reporting to your lap-petty highness that security has deteriorated in the last six months. Ignorant, half-brained! You think that Fellow Americans will believe you?

-You too, will be held responsible of the embezzlement your boss has started with the illegal invasion of Iraq.

[nggr]

that was sarcasm by the way.

[nggr]

i think they are right, the surge is helping.
its helping more and more americans die everyday.
its been a big help

[lucasnico]

nanman.... I understand this, as do most normal people, wanting the troops to come home safe and quickly IS supporting them. Since I oppose war, this means you favor it?? Is your logic really that simple...that stupid? If so, God help you, because nobody else will.

[gretagreen]

How did it come to be that we do not have the kind of media coverage for Iraq that we had for Viet Nam? What ever happened to sitting around the 6:00 news and seeing body bags and soldiers dying? That shouldn''t have changed. So many people find it too easy to avoid thinking about war.

"mudrose" kind of reminds me of "*** blossom"

[marcodele]

Actually these polls indicate that a clear majority of americans believe the war to be a mistake and that the so called "surge" is either making things worse or having no impact at all.

These results also show that all the right wing neocon nutjobs that live on these boards all day long are the few crazies left in support of Bush and his seven years of failures.

[gretagreen]

If I had been polled, I would have said that the surge was helping in some ways. However, that does not change the fact that we need our soldiers to come home. We do not want them there any more. We need a plan to allow them to safely withdraw ASAP and we need to figure out a non-military way (unless it was to join with multi-national/multi-ethnic peacekeepers) to help the Iraqis whose country has been destroyed indirectly b/c of our actions.

I will not support any candidate or leader who votes to give any more money for the Iraq war. We have lost (wasted and actually lost) too much money over there already (spent almost one trillion). We need our money here along with our soldiers.

OUT OF IRAQ NOW (or as soon as possible)!!!

[citizenusa-2009]

If the "poll" is correct it only confirms that the American people as a whole are clueless and brainwashed. I personally do not believe the results of the survey. It''s impossible that in the space of two weeks, ANYONE is backing Baby Bush''s "surge". Nothing but BUSHIT.

[nanman2-2009]

Well, again sorry that I upset you and your opinion. Maybe you should have served, if you are old enough, in Southeast Asia? Sound good to you? I did. Two tours and would go to Iraq if I could. The Army, Navy, Marines have a code a code that you will never have or understand. Go back under your rock. If you can''t support our troops and our President then leave.

[mudrose-2009]

"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."(John Stuart Mill)
Posted by getagrip54

Mill attempts to reply to misconceptions about utilitarianism, and thereby delineate the theory. Mill observes that many people misunderstand utilitarianism by interpreting utility as in opposition to pleasure. In reality, utility is defined as pleasure itself, and the absence of pain. Thus another name for utility is the Greatest Happiness Principle. This principle holds that "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure." Pleasure and the absence of pain are, by this account, the only things desirable as ends in themselves, the only things inherently "good." Thus, any other circumstance, event, or experience is desirable only insofar as it is a source for such pleasure; actions are good when they lead to a higher level of general happiness, and bad when they decrease that level.

Mill like the rest of the secular progressives lives by the pleasure principle. There is no morality in utility other than what feels good. Like Marcuse if it feels good do it or do your own thing. It''s the only thing your people concentrate on. That''s why according to him Conservatives are stupid. They happen to think, unlike you.

[nanman2-2009]

Well, I never thought I would comment on this section. I have decided that Legal American Citizens have very short memories. They are quick to judge never know the reasons behind the decisions made by President Bush. The only reason that you have it what is reported by the news. The laugh is on you my good friends. The reporters only tell you the bad. Ever see a good report? Have you ever noticed how they kick you more when you are down? Just like some of the comments being made here today are very sicken. You don''t belong here in this country. You belong somewhere else. Maybe Bagdad or some place in Iraq so you would know. That''s all I have to say about these comments. My time is more valuable.

[getagrip54]

"Stupid people are often astounded.
Posted by leftyintexas

Well, that''''s because dimwits are so surefooted in their delusions and immorality. Nothing could ever move the conscience or astound the spirit. After all, the believe is in the survival of the fittest so therefore you die, well then you weren''''t fit to live. Isn''''t that how it goes lefy?
Posted by mudrose"

Here''s another quote for you mudrose, fits right in with your comments - "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."(John Stuart Mill)

[ckcool192001]

I love the misleading title on this article. CBS would lead you to believe that more americans are in favor of the war now...not true, if we look at the ''polls'' every one of them still shows the large majority against the war.

[bobnjersey]

[Gee, too bad you weren''''t so upset when Clinton gave nuclear secrets to the chinese. ]
[Posted by mudrose at 10:41 AM : Sep 10, 2007]

that''s not a problem at all ... cause that''s obsolete technology ... we got nuc-u-lar technology now ... and it''s all in bush''s head.

either way ... nobody has died ... the world wasn''t made less safe ... an arms race in the middle east wasn''t fueled ... and the price of oil didn''t triple.

idiot!

[oakishpines]

'' ... though i move across on the ground, the ground too moves across on me, though the trees look as statues, they dance, and as i dance between them, they too likely think i stand as still as a statue, though my wings and tails and fins and gills seem to me broken and lost, my flight grooves, i just don''t feel so well just now, but i only feel as such a statue, but i am not, and were i, i would be but like the trees, a seeming statue, but very very rhthmic and melodic just the same ... ''

'' ... if you want seven billion songs and dances and get well soon bouquets, just bomb vanhatten and they will be yours, but why bother, you can have them anyway just by asking for them ... ''

'' ... the garden was crafted of useless star swallowing compost that craves to breathe and drink ... and to dance like haphazard moss draped across haphazard bones of branches swishing around in haphazard dirt splintered with speckles of drip air and drip water and drip fertile ... ''

[bluestardad]

MORE UNADULTERATED BUSHIT!

STANDING IN THE DARK TELLING EVERYONE IT IS DAYLIGHT!

[mudrose-2009]

Enough is enough is congress this shameless?
It is time to cut the funding for the Bush Cheney Oil war.

Bush & Cheney should go to jail over these acts!

Posted by mocaleo

Gee, too bad you weren''t so upset when Clinton gave nuclear secrets to the chinese.

[mudrose-2009]

Stupid people are often astounded.
Posted by leftyintexas

Well, that''s because dimwits are so surefooted in their delusions and immorality. Nothing could ever move the conscience or astound the spirit. After all, the believe is in the survival of the fittest so therefore you die, well then you weren''t fit to live. Isn''t that how it goes lefy?