Americans Believe Bush Will Do the Right Thing on Iraq
A WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE NEWS ROUNDUP
While Americans are far from enthusiastic over an attack on Iraq, they are much more supportive of war than are citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada, according to the findings of the latest Harris Poll.
Some 40% of Americans say the U.S. should attack Iraq within the next month unless Saddam Hussein's regime proves it does not have nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. But only about 20% of those in Canada and the U.K. favor such a timetable, and most say war should be waged only if the United Nations approves an attack.
GIRDING FOR WAR
• See an interactive map1 of the Mideast detailing U.S. military preparations for a possible war with Iraq.
• For continuing coverage, see War With Iraq.2
People in all three countries overwhelmingly believe Iraq has or is producing nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. Only 20% of Americans believe U.N. inspectors would be able to find the weapons after a year of searching. Canadians are more optimistic, but still just 31% believe the weapons could be found.
Nearly a third of Americans say there is a close link between Mr. Hussein and al Qaeda. U.K. and Canadian citizens are far less convinced, but more than half still say there is probably some connection.
Most Americans believe that President Bush will make the right decision on Iraq. But barely a third of Canadians believe the president will make the right choice, and only 29% of those in Britain do.
Here are the results of the latest poll:
CONFIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT BUSH WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
"How much confidence do you have that President Bush and his administration will make the right decisions regarding the use, or nonuse, of the U.S. military to attack Iraq?"
Base: All Adults
U.S. G.B. Canada
% % %
Very/Somewhat confident (NET) 58 29 34
I'm very confident 35 10 12
I'm somewhat confident 23 19 22
Not at all confident/Not very confident (NET) 39 69 63
I'm not very confident 18 33 29
I'm not at all confident 21 36 34
Don't know 4 2 3
***
BELIEVE IRAQ HAS OR IS MAKING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
"Do you believe that Iraq has, or is making, nuclear, chemical or biological weapons?"
Base: All Adults
U.S. G.B. Canada
% % %
Believe Iraq has, or is making, such weapons 80 73 69
Do not believe Iraq has, or is making, such weapons 4 6 9
Don't know 16 21 23
***
BELIEVE U.N. INSPECTORS WILL FIND WEAPONS IF HAVE A YEAR TO LOOK
"If Iraq has nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, do you believe that the U.N. weapons inspectors will be able to find them if they have a year to look for them?"
Base: All Adults
U.S. G.B. Canada
% % %
Will be able to find such weapons 20 29 31
Will not be able to find such weapons 60 49 47
Don't know 20 21 22
***
WHAT SHOULD U.S. AND ALLIES DO?
"Which one of the following comes closest to your view of what the United States and its allies should do?"
Base: All Adults
U.S. G.B. Canada
% % %
Attack Iraq only after the U.N. weapons inspectors have had plenty of time to look, and there is strong evidence that Iraq still has or is making nuclear, chemical or biological weapons 33 46 47
Attack Iraq in the next month or so unless Iraq proves it does not have nuclear, chemical or biological weapons 40 22 20
Only attack if Iraq attacks another country 13 22 19
Not attack Iraq under any circumstances 4 6 8
Don't know 10 4 6
***
FAVOR/OPPOSE ATTACK IF BUSH BELIEVES HUSSEIN IS HIDING WEAPONS BUT INSPECTORS CANNOT FIND ANY AND U.N. DOES NOT VOTE TO APPROVE ATTACK
"Would you favor or oppose a military attack on Iraq if President Bush believes Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction but the U.N. weapons inspectors cannot find any, and the United Nations does not vote to approve an attack?"
Base: All Adults
U.S. G.B. Canada
% % %
Would favor attacking Iraq 45 27 22
Would oppose attacking Iraq 36 59 65
Don't know 19 14 13
***
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN HUSSEIN AND AL QAEDA?
"Do you think there is a link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda?"
Base: All Adults
U.S. G.B. Canada
% % %
There is a close link 30 11 17
There is some link 48 50 48
There is no link 7 20 14
Don't know 15 20 20
***
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD U.S. ALLOW BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO ATTACK?
"How much time do you think the U.S. should allow for the U.N. inspectors to look for nuclear, chemical or biological weapons before deciding whether or not we need to attack Iraq?"
Base: All Adults
U.S. G.B. Canada
% % %
Less than 1 month 27 13 11
1 month 15 15 13
2 – 3 months 13 17 17
4 – 6 months 14 15 18
7 – 9 months 3 3 4
10 – 12 months 8 16 16
More than 1 year 7 12 10
Don't know 12 9 12
***
DOES BUSH WANT TO ATTACK OR WOULD HE PREFER TO ACHIEVE HIS GOALS WITHOUT ATTACKING?
"Overall, do you feel that President Bush wants a military attack on Iraq or that he'd prefer to achieve his main goals without attacking Iraq?"
Base: All Adults
U.S. G.B. Canada
% % %
Wants a military attack 52 80 75
Would prefer to achieve goals without an attack 42 18 21
Don't know 6 2 4
* * *
Methodology: This poll was conducted online between February 19 and 27, 2003, among a nationwide cross section of 2,201 adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education, number of adults and number of voice/telephone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to align with population proportions. Harris Interactive estimates the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus three percentage points of compared to results if the entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy.
URL for this article:
online.wsj.com
Updated March 6, 2003 3:03 p.m. EST |
