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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Washington Too Optimistic Before War, Americans Say
(CPOD) Apr. 3, 2003 - Americans believe their government was unduly optimistic in its pre-war assessment of the Iraq conflict, according to a Harris Interactive poll released by Time and CNN. 55 per cent of respondents say Washington raised false expectations about the military campaign, while 29 per cent claim the government had to be upbeat in order to rally public support.
Many Americans also expect a prolonged conflict. 46 per cent of respondents say the war might take up to a year, and only 12 per cent expect it to last four weeks or less.
Americans are attentive when it comes to fatalities on both sides. Support for the war drops by 13 per cent if 5,000 American soldiers die, and by 10 per cent if 5,000 Iraqi civilians perish. It is estimated that 50,000 American soldiers lost their lives during the Vietnam War.
Support for United States president George W. Bush is steady, with 67 per cent of respondents having a favourable view of the current head of state.
Polling Data
What do you think of Washington's forecast on the war, before it actually began?
Raised false expectations about the conflict | 55% |
Officials did it to increase public support | 29% |
How long do you think the war will last?
From four months to a year | 46% |
From one to three months | 32% |
From two to four weeks | 13% |
Would you support the war, if you knew it would cause these many casualties?
American Troops | 1,000 | 5,000 |
Yes | 47% | 34% |
No | 41% | 50% |
Iraqi Civilians | 1,000 | 5,000 |
Yes | 50% | 40% |
No | 39% | 47% |
What's your opinion of president George W. Bush?
Favourable | 67% |
Unfavourable | 30% |
Source: Harris Interactive / Time / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,014 American adults, conducted on Mar. 27, 2003. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.