Here is a compilation of polls related to the war's build-up and some during the attack. I don't have the time, but it'd be interesting if someone could examine these polls and then look at what the major news story was that preceeded them.
I'm certain a pattern (I'd love to see a comparative chart) could be detected that showed many of the Administration's exaggerations (lies, distortions, omissions and perversions of truth) happened not so much in order to make an accurate call for war, rather they were an attempt to manipulate public and congressional opinion into supporting the war.
It sure seemed like every time Bush's war approval ratings neared the 50% mark we got fed a new whopper.
It's sort of like the whoppers the Administration and FOXnews are presently feeding us, now that Bush's approval ratings now tanking below the 50 percent mark. Think: the elevated terror alerts, flight cancellations, the ricin incident; the Fox News Analysis reports we've recently seen from Mansoor Ijaz (chemicals gonna rain on Baghdad) and Bill Gertz (Al Qaeda now all over the US).
Then think about the new whopper just heaped upon us:
washingtonpost.com
>>>Expressing frustration with the insurgency's failure to force out U.S. and allied troops, he [the inside-Iraq al Qaeda terrorist] asks for assistance from al Qaeda to accelerate the guerrillas' activities.<<<
As I've stated before, Ernie Pyle--a famous World War II war correspondent--NEVER would have publicly released the enemy's call for reinforcement information, in effect delivering the message to the enemy that the courrier failed to deliver. Clearly, the Bush Administration is trying to instill into the public image that al Qaeda is in Iraq in order to help bolster the case for war, in order to help bolster Bush's poll ratings.
Bush once said, "bring 'em on!" By giving the enemy the information it failed to receive, it's like saying, "here we are, come and get us!"
Anyway, here are some of the past polls. Examine them and then try to find out what the major news story was every time Bush's poll ratings rose. Should be a great project for someone.
WAR POLLS:
[NOTE: 42%--at one time it was 70%--of Americans believe Iraq involved with 9/11]
(Compilation of multiple media polls)
September 9, 2003 to February 16, 2003 (multiple polls):
Message 18612600
February 12, 2003 to March 2, 2003 (multiple polls)
Message 18707015
May 7--Republican National Committe Poll
capitolhillblue.com
March 3-March 8 Democrat-Republican Bipartisan Poll
Message 18705570
zoomerang.com
February to March Zogby International/Univ. of Maryland
latimes.com.
March 14, 2003 New York Times/CBS Poll
rferl.org
March 14-March 15 Zogby International Poll
zogby.com |
