New Harris Poll on Iraq

[Brian Rucker]

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 1,020 U.S. adults (ages 18 and over) surveyed by telephone by Harris Interactive® between July 5 and 11, 2006.

Specifically, the survey finds:

By 56 to 37 percent, a majority is not confident that Iraq will be successful in developing a stable and reasonably democratic government. This has improved slightly from November 2005, when a larger 61 to 32 majority felt this way.

Furthermore, a large 68 to 28 majority thinks the United States is less respected around the world as a result of the invasion in Iraq. This is worse from a year ago in June 2005 when, by 62 to 33, a majority felt the U.S. was less respected.

Attitudes toward the Iraq war

The public’s views on Iraq have not changed substantially in the past year:

A majority (56%) thinks that spending huge sums of money to invade and occupy Iraq has meant that a lot less money has been available to protect the United States against another terrorist attack. This has decreased from April 2005 when 62 percent agreed with this sentiment.

Still, six in 10 (61%) adults agree (59% in April 2005) that invading and occupying Iraq has motivated more Islamic terrorists to attack the United States.

By 58 to 41 percent, a clear majority does not think that invading Iraq has helped to reduce the threat of another terrorist attack against the United States. This is similar to the 61 to 39 percent majority that felt this way in April 2005.

What the public believes to be true

U.S. adults believe that the following are true about the war in Iraq:

Seventy-two percent believe that the Iraqis are better off now than they were under Saddam Hussein (slightly down from February 2005 when 76 percent said this was true).

Just over half (55%) think history will give the U.S. credit for bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq (down substantially from 64% in February 2005).

Sixty-four percent say it is true that Saddam Hussein had strong links to Al Qaeda (the same as 64% in February 2005).

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/har...ex.asp?PID=684

And last night CNN had another poll that indicated most Americans think the Lebanon conflict is going to spread and start WWIII.

Unable to find a link now but Jack Cafferty seemed less than pleased with it.

[MarchHare]

Sixty-four percent say it is true that Saddam Hussein had strong links to Al Qaeda (the same as 64% in February 2005).

Wow, still? At this point is it the failings of the US media to correctly report the facts, deliberate misinformation and vague comments by the Bush administration, or willful ignorance (or wishful thinking?) by the American public? How can anyone still believe that?

[Brian Rucker]

I think it's mostly ignorance and wishful thinking. The facts are well represented in the media even if Cheney and the neocon cabal keep pushing against them.

[Glenn]

I'm guessing there was a jump in the poll numbers due to media attention on Zarqawi following his death.

Not that he was ever any kind of friend to Saddam, nor did he even have Al Qaeda ties until well after Colin Powell crowned him as Mr. "Al Qaeda in Iraq." But that kind of subtlety and nuance is lost on such a large audience.

[Jason McCullough]

That is so strange. What the hell?

[flyinj]

I love the fact that the war approval numbers are so low, with a majority *still* believing that Saddam housed and supported Al-Qaeda. I wonder what the numbers would be like if the administration didn't constantly lie about the Al-Qaeda / Saddam link.