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Majority in U.S. Feels Misled on Iraq War
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States are troubled by their government's rationale to launch military action in Iraq, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 51 per cent of respondents believe the Bush administration deliberately misled the American public about whether Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, a 12 per cent increase in two years.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 1,780 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 13,600 troops have been injured.
Pre-war speeches by U.S. president George W. Bush mentioned specific chemical agents, such as mustard gas, sarin and VX nerve gas as banned substances allegedly secured by Iraq. State secretary Colin Powell assured the United Nations (UN) Security Council in February 2003 that Hussein possessed biological weapons.
The final report of the Iraq Survey Group—presented to the U.S. Congress on Sept. 30, 2004—concluded that Hussein's regime did not possess chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, and had not implemented a significant program for their development.
Polling Data
Do you think the Bush administration deliberately misled the American public about whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, or not?
Jul. 2005 | Jul. 2004 | Jul. 2003 | |
Yes, deliberately misled | 51% | 45% | 39% |
No, did not | 47% | 52% | 58% |
No opinion | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Source: Gallup / CNN / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,006 American adults, conducted from Jul. 22 to Jul. 24, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.