Will Rummy survive the current storm?
abcnews.go.com
Iraqi Prisoner Abuse
Most Dismayed, But Few Call for Rumsfeld's Resignation
Analysis
By Gary Langer
May 7, 2004— Most Americans express dismay about the abuse of Iraqi detainees by U.S. soldiers, and the nation divides on whether the Bush administration sought at first to investigate the scandal — or to cover it up.
Yet more than six in 10 also see these incidents as isolated, and say they should not cost Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld his job.
Three-quarters of the public are closely following the story, a level of attention reserved for some of the most gripping news events. Two-thirds favor criminal charges against the soldiers involved; fewer — but still a majority — 54 percent, say punishment should go up the chain of command to higher-level officers who allowed a breakdown of training and discipline.
Still, given current knowledge, most say the buck should stop before it gets to Rumsfeld. Twenty percent in this ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll say he should resign, while many more, 69 percent, say he should retain his position. Even most Democrats — hardly the administration's fondest fans — say Rumsfeld should stay.
Views may be changeable based on the facts that develop and the level of attention the issue commands.
Anger about the incidents is highest among people who are following the story most closely, and much lower among those who haven't paid it much attention.
Similarly, while relatively few in any group say Rumsfeld should go, calls for his departure are least prevalent among people who haven't tuned in to the controversy.
And people who think abuse has been widespread, rather than isolated, are three times more likely to say Rumsfeld should resign (37 percent of them say so, compared with 12 percent of those who think the incidents are isolated.) .....
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