| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"PagCal" |
| Date: |
27 Jan 2005 05:48:33 AM |
| Object: |
In US, patience over Iraq thins |
Among Bush's other problems for his war in Iraq:
1. Budget out of control; he wants another 80b for this misadventure
2. There is no 'light at end of tunnel' in Iraq - no exit strategy
3. US Casulities are escalating
---
from the January 27, 2005 edition
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0127/p01s01-usfp.html
In US, patience over Iraq thins
The election Sunday may sharply impact US opinion on the war.
By Liz Marlantes | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
WASHINGTON – The crash of a transport helicopter that killed 31 marines
in Iraq - marking the deadliest day for US forces there since the
invasion - is putting new weight on Sunday's elections as a potentially
critical turning point not only for Iraqis, but for Americans, too.
President Bush sought once again to steel public support for the Iraq
mission Wednesday, issuing a statement on the helicopter crash and
holding a public news conference.
At the press conference, Bush acknowledged that the loss of US marines
is "very discouraging to the American people," and he stressed that the
US "will complete the mission [in Iraq] as quickly as possible." But he
also cast the upcoming elections as "a grand moment for those who
believe in freedom."
The incident came amid signs that Americans are increasingly souring on
Iraq, with a majority now saying the invasion was a mistake. That
sentiment has been reflected in Congress, where Democrats - including
some from states that Mr. Bush carried in November - spent the past few
days sharply questioning Condoleezza Rice, before confirming her as
secretary of State, over mistakes made in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Some members of Congress also expressed concern about how their
constituents would react to the Bush administration's request for an
additional $80 billion in emergency spending for Iraq and Afghanistan.
To some extent, Bush's growing challenge in rallying public support for
the war could be seen in last week's inaugural speech, which offered
what was intended to be an idealistic case for the administration's Iraq
policy - casting the spread of democracy as the ultimate antidote to
terrorism - but which also never mentioned Iraq by name. Polls taken in
the wake of the speech showed it had little impact on public views on
the war.
"As far as the war is concerned, I think Jan 30 is the ultimate tipping
point," says independent pollster John Zogby.
Certainly, public opinion on Iraq has grown markedly more negative in
recent weeks, with 52 percent of Americans now saying the war was not
worth it, as opposed to 46 percent who think it was, according the most
recent Gallup poll.
Polls also show that, despite Bush's hopeful rhetoric, Americans have
relatively low expectations surrounding this weekend's elections. A
recent Associated Press poll found that 53 percent think it's unlikely
that a stable, democratic Iraq will be established.
And, significantly, the public currently does not see the elections as
likely to provide the US with an opportunity to begin withdrawing
troops. According to Gallup, only 15 percent believe the elections will
allow the US to withdraw troops within the next few months.
Still, Mr. Zogby believes that many Americans will want to see an
indication of an endpoint to the occupation, whether or not the
elections are seen as a success, because Sunday's vote will represent to
many a marker in the process of handing power back to the Iraqis.
"Americans like their wars to be short," he says. "They are going to
want to see an exit strategy."
Calls for an exit strategy are already cropping up among some observers
and lawmakers - who suggest that a timetable for US withdrawal could
have a beneficial effect on the situation in Iraq, because resentment
over the US presence is fueling the insurgency faster than American
troops can beat it back.
Rep. Martin Meehan (D) of Massachusetts, who recently returned from a
visit to Iraq, this week offered a detailed proposal to draw down US
troops over the next 12 to 18 months. While the upcoming elections
represent a positive development, he says, they're unlikely to stem the
violence.
"I think Americans want to see light at the end of the tunnel," he says.
Other experts say a timetable for US withdrawal would simply encourage
the insurgents in Iraq, and undermine the new government. Moreover, they
say Americans understand the importance of the mission and are likely to
remain patient.
"Before they would actually turn toward wanting to withdraw, there would
have to be some kind of trigger," he says - something along the lines of
a prominent American leader convincing the public that pulling out is
not only a viable option, but that it would not leave Iraq a breeding
ground for future terrorists.
One factor that experts agree would lead to a strong demand to pull out
would be if the newly elected Iraqi government asked the US to leave -
though there's substantial disagreement on how likely that may be. Mr.
Meehan sees it as almost inevitable, saying that politically, no Iraqi
leader is going to want to be seen as pro-occupation. But others argue
that the new Iraqi government will likely recognize that its survival
depends on the ongoing security provided by US troops.
.
|
|
| User: "Democrats - pencilnecked freaks" |
|
| Title: Re: In US, resolve over Iraq strengthens |
27 Jan 2005 06:03:44 AM |
|
|
"PagCal" <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote in message
news:wuWdnRKma_6PSGXcRVn-iA@giganews.com...
Among Bush's other problems for his war in Iraq:
1. Budget out of control; he wants another 80b for this misadventure
2. There is no 'light at end of tunnel' in Iraq - no exit strategy
3. US Casulities are escalating
President Bush himself said, years ago, that this war against Muslim
Terrorism would be a long war, and would be a difficult war. 3500 American
civilians died, in just one day, on American soil, due to an unprovoked
attack by Muslim terrorists. Less than 1/3 that number of American
soldiers have died, in over a year of fighting, on Muslim soil. due to the
battle against Muslim Terrorist. And there have been no further Muslim
terrorist attacks on American soil.
Three cheers for President Bush!!!
.
|
|
|
| User: "PagCal" |
|
| Title: Re: In US, resolve over Iraq strengthens |
27 Jan 2005 09:12:53 PM |
|
|
Democrats - pencilnecked freaks wrote:
"PagCal" <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote in message
news:wuWdnRKma_6PSGXcRVn-iA@giganews.com...
Among Bush's other problems for his war in Iraq:
1. Budget out of control; he wants another 80b for this misadventure
2. There is no 'light at end of tunnel' in Iraq - no exit strategy
3. US Casulities are escalating
President Bush himself said, years ago, that this war against Muslim
Terrorism would be a long war, and would be a difficult war. 3500 American
civilians died, in just one day, on American soil, due to an unprovoked
Get your facts straight on the #'s, then talk.
attack by Muslim terrorists. Less than 1/3 that number of American
soldiers have died, in over a year of fighting, on Muslim soil. due to the
battle against Muslim Terrorist. And there have been no further Muslim
terrorist attacks on American soil.
Three cheers for President Bush!!!
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
