(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States express no confidence in their federal government on the topic of intelligence, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 63 per cent of respondents say they cannot trust the Bush administration to honestly and accurately report on possible threats from other countries.

Pre-Iraq 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.

On Feb. 11, U.S. military officials accused the Iranian government of providing roadside bombs to Iraqi militants. 47 per cent of respondents think the Bush administration has solid evidence that Iran is supporting insurgent attacks against American forces in Iraq, and 41 per cent express confidence that the Bush administration will do a good job handling current tensions with Iran.

On Mar. 4, Republican Michigan congressman Pete Hoekstra questioned the government's abilities, saying, "We still don't have the intelligence community (needed) to give us as policy-makers the information we need to make good decisions on North Korea and Iran and other places."

Polling Data

Overall, do you feel that you can or cannot trust the Bush administration to honestly and accurately report intelligence about possible threats from other countries?

The Bush administration has charged that Iran is supporting insurgent attacks against American forces in Iraq. Do you feel the Bush administration does or does not have solid evidence that Iran is doing this?

How confident are you that the Bush administration will do a good job handling current tensions with Iran?

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