Contrary to prevailing assumptions, Americans want to win in Iraq. Read the Drudge Report story that follows:
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POLL: AMERICANS 'WANT TO WIN IN IRAQ'
Tue Feb 20 2007 16:21:32 ET
In the wake of the U.S. House of Representatives passing a
resolution that amounts to a vote of no confidence in the Bush
administration's policies in Iraq, a new national survey by Alexandria,
VA-based Public Opinion Strategies (POS) shows the American people may
have some different ideas from their elected leaders on this issue.
The survey was conducted nationwide February 5-7 among a bi-partisan,
cross-section of 800 registered voters. It has a margin of error of
plus or minus 3.5 percent. The survey was commissioned by The Moriah
Group, a Chattanooga-based strategic communications and public affairs
firm.
The survey shows Americans want to win in Iraq, and that they
understand Iraq is the central point in the war against terrorism and
they can support a U.S. strategy aimed at
achieving victory, said Neil
Newhouse, a partner in POS. The idea of pulling back from Iraq is not
where the majority of Americans are.
When asked which statement best describes their position on the Iraq War, voters are evenly divided (50 percent - 49 percent) between positions of "doing whatever it takes to restore order until the Iraqis can govern and provide security to their country," and positions that call for immediate withdrawal or a strict timetable.
The survey also found that voters thought it would hurt American prestige more to pull out of Iraq immediately (59 percent) than it would to stay there for the long term (35 percent). Public Opinion Strategies "scored the best win-loss record among the major polling and media firms in the 2004 election" and was named Pollster of the Year in 2002.