Was It Worth It? (ABC Poll 54% say war worth fighting)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/World/poll030908_iraq.html

Americans express a growing suspicion that the war in Iraq will boost rather than ease the long-term risk of terrorism against the United States, a concern that directly challenges President Bush's rationale for invading.

This finding of a new ABCNEWS poll follows continued attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and on civilians elsewhere in the world, and marks a sharp turn in public attitudes.

A week after the fall of Baghdad, 58 percent of Americans thought the war would reduce the long-term risk of terrorism. Today that's down 18 points, while 48 percent — up 19 points — think the war has raised the risk.

At the same time, the number of Americans who say the war was worth fighting has slipped to 54 percent — a new low, down from 61 percent in mid-August and a high of 70 percent as the main fighting wound down.

Such concerns, measured in interviews in this ABCNEWS poll from Thursday through Sunday evening, frame the conditions in which Bush addressed the nation about Iraq on Sunday night. The poll also found a drop in approval of his handling of the situation to a new low, 49 percent — down from 56 percent last month and 75 percent on April 30, a day before he declared the major fighting over.

[Richardo]

1. Slight edit needed....

Americans express a growing suspicion that the war in Iraq will boost rather than ease the long-term risk of terrorism against the United States, a concern that directly challenges President Bush's CURRENT rationale for invading.

What will it be NEXT week?

[JackDragna]

11. I say America decicdes the next rationale!

It's like a game, isn't it? Maybe we can pretend Hussein was hiding Martian weapons under Baghdad this week. "We had to invade because Saddam had an Illudium Pu-38 Space Modulator."

[stickdog]

2. How and why was it worth it?

Just wondering.

[gratuitous]

4. Don't worry, that 54% who think it was worth it will skyrocket

As soon as the expenditures go down and the casualty figures start dropping. I mean 300 dead is a lot, but when the number of dead goes down to 250 and then 200, you'll see a lot more people saying it was all worth it! Shrub's "re"-election is secure!

This gratuitous example of neocon thinking brought to you by your friendly neighborhood gratuitous! Insist only on genuine gratuitous bashing, and ask for it by name. If your grocer tries to foist off an imitation on you, kick him in the nads and run away!

[shance]

9. There has been nothing but failure and a looting of Iraq - thats success??

Saddam? Oh Saddaaaaam???

Nobody knows where Saddam is, well, probably some do, unless they are holding him until their next dismal failure so they can bring him out for show and tell.

Time is ticking before another terrorist attack on our soil. It could come from anywhere now, because this Administration has managed to incite hatred virtually from almost every other country on the planet.

Our troops, sorely neglected, are undervalued by our Administration and now has the audacity to actually attempt to cut their benefits? The troops resentment grows closer to hatred each and every day, which Im sure will be further inflicted on innocent Iraqis.

Halliburton and Brechtel directors are dancing a jig.

If anyone needs to get out of Iraq, these guys do.

Who else is going to profit from these companies that are exploiting this war that WE CREATED and now these SOB's are PROFITING?

Could there be any greater sin and total lack of conscience than what these two companies are doing? Our Congress is doing us the GREATEST disservice by turning their heads on this.

HELLO DICK GEPHARDT, JOHN KERRY, JOE LIEBERMAN, and JOHN EDWARDS?

WORDS ARE BEYOND CHEAP NOW.

IN FACT, YOU ARENT EVEN SAYING THE WORDS AMERICANS REALLY NEED TO HEAR. YOU CERTAINLY ARENT ACTING LIKE THE ROLE YOU SO DESPERATELY SEEK.

YOU LEAVE ADDRESSING THE BIGGEST AND BADDEST OF ISSUES FOR HOWARD DEAN.

Tell me, where are these Senators when the going gets tough? They talk about experience. What, about becoming soft in their Senate seats?

Howard Dean is there, but where are yall?

Every other country is looking at this amazing abuse of American power and they are keeping tabs, and soon, we will not be trusted again for a very long time.

We will remain the target of much scrutiny and disdain if we keep going in this direction. Take a look at how long it has taken Germany to get out of their 'funk'. They have the shadow of WWII cast upon them and will for some time. Do we want to have a shadow like that? It could happen. It could happen anywhere with the right environment. In the meantime, Russia and China (and North Korea) are probably doing push-ups right now waiting for an opportunity to become superpowers themselves. We seem to be giving them both incentive and invitation.

Iraq has been the greatest failure and massacre I think of my lifetime. I was young when Vietnam was happening so I dont fully know how to compare the two. This is just so very blatant and yet so cloaked in secrecy to many in mainstream America. Because of this Administrations rabid race into Iraq, flipping off the UN and everyone else that stood in their way, the Middle East and Iraq are gunning for the biggest US grizzly they can find, and can you blame them after we invade an essentially defenseless country with no thought of creating problems with the USA, and then we proceed to "secure" their oil wells, (putting their oil in 'trust'?) and dismantling every other thing including the elimination and murders of families, children. We have essentially eliminated a once highly cultivated civilization.

Its overtime for this Administration to resign, hand things over, and/or be impeached. They have taken both our country and the country of Iraq hostage, are teaching the most immoral and corrupt principles to our children, and the worst thing is that they dont even seem to care. Even Colin Powell.

[KittyWampus]

3. This Would Be A Hard Question To Answer

Was it "Worth" it... that's the kind of question someone would ask me about a movie I just saw.

I reject the thought process behind the question.

[Felix Mala]

5. What moron got us in this mess?

The headline in yesterday's Indianapolis Star contained an egregious typographical error. It read “Bush: War to Cost $89 Billion More.”

It would be more accurate if they had removed the colon.

It’s too bad that on 9/12/2001 we had the good will and support of the entire world. They supported us we protected our airports and cities and when went into Afghanistan. Now we’re a pariah and many people around the world could care less whether our nation survives. What moron squandered all this support? It’s such a spectacle to see the Neocons being dragged hissing and biting back to the UN so we can BEG for help. They were so certain they’d disposed of the UN. Remember when last winter when the UN became irrelevant? And don’t even get me started on the fact that the $89 million still is not enough and represents the administration’s resolve to try nation building on the cheap. Meanwhile the governments of nations that foment hatred of the US (chiefly Saudi Arabia) continue to get their free ride courtesy of the oil lobby.



If 9/11 happened again, would anyone outside of the US care?

[reprobate]

8. "$89 million still is not enough". Oh, but it IS.

It's enough to give every American higher education.

It's enough to give every American health care.

By the way, if Commander Codpiece is going to give Iraq universal healthcare, don't WE come first?

[Bandit]

10. It would be more accurate if they had removed the colon.

I think it was a subtle dig at Bush*. It is a small colon and not all will notice it plus a lot will remove it just like you did. I appreciate seeing headlines like that one.

[trogdor]

6. 54% say the war was worth it.

Same 54% say the next Survivor will be "totally rad, man."
0.0001% of the ones who say it's worth it plan to head down to the local Army recruiter's office in the next week.

[StandWatie]

12. that number will keep falling

it will hit the 30% of diehard Bushbot's and remain there.

[peterh]

7. “A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves.”

Bertrand de Jouvenel (1903-1987)
French Political Philosopher and Author


The fact that the percentage is still over half says the wolves are still feasting.