Poll: Americans Pessimistic on Terror War

[onehandle]

Half of Americans Fear Terrorists Winning War, Many Pessimistic About Security, AP Poll Finds

WASHINGTON April 21 — Half of Americans have concerns that terrorists might be winning the war on terrorism, and one in five feels strongly that way, according to an Associated Press poll that found many people pessimistic about their security.

Fears about an attack against this country are high. Two-thirds in the poll said it was likely terrorists would strike before the November elections. And a third said it was likely there would be an attack at one of the political conventions this summer.

snip...

Those who think the military action in Iraq has increased the long-term risk of terrorism in the United States have increased from 40 percent in December to 54 percent now, according to the poll, conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs.

The people who say the Bush administration made the right decision to go to war in Iraq, 48 percent, are now about even with those who think the administration made a mistake, 49 percent. In December, two-thirds said the administration made the right decision.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040421_2467.html

[freeforall]

1. Not hard to believe, with the Bushistas

running around alienating and/or aggravating everyone - including their (former) allies.

[Mari333]

2. Thats depressing, they still dont link the war in Iraq as causing more

terrorists and not preventing them.
God people are dumb.
emergency supplies like batteries and duct tape eh?
People still arent paying attention. God, they are so fucking clueless.
I dont know what will wake them up at this point.
they bought the Bush bullshit, hook line and sinker.

[fishnfla]

3. So if there is no attack before Nov., what happens?

two thirds of the public was wrong, or shrub gets credit for stoppping it? and how would we know that?

and if there is an attack before the elections, then what? rally 'round the flag, boys?

[Mari333]

4. martial law

and no elections.

[grasswire]

5. so....

...why is it that George is still getting high marks for the war against terrorism in the polls?

It doesn't compute.

[fishnfla]

8. this poll does not compute

wtf does 'have concerns' that the terrorist 'might be winning' mean? could it be anymore vague?

[leesa]

6. Corporate America telling us we're strongly in favor of wars that make no

legal or ethical sense.

[cliss]

7. I know what the problem is:

we'll start with the title 'The War on Terror'. First of all, this is a vague, nondescript title. It's used as a shopping cart for all kinds of ills, just like the 'War on Drugs' was.

This was is completely open-ended. When will this war be considered won? What exactly is the war on terror? It's slogans like these that cause people to be uncomfortable, because they don't know what it encompasses.

Also, it works poorly on Americans because they are a project-oriented people. They like to focus on a job to be done, and they like to see an end, hopefully sooner rather than later. The War on Terror has no end, because there will always be terrorism. In particular when we fight fire with fire.