Americans worried, angrier and less hopeful about Iraq situation

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON, (AFP) - Americans are worried, angrier and less hopeful about the situation in Iraq than they were when the war began a year ago, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Sixty-seven percent of the 1,005 adults surveyed May 20-23 said they were worried about Iraq, three percent higher than in late March 2003, when the US-led invasion of Iraq began and there was uncertainty about its outcome.

The ranks of those angry over the current situation, however, rose to 57 percent from 30 percent in March of last year, while the hopeful dropped to 62 percent from 80 percent when the war began.

Fewer Americans were proud of what is going on in Iraq -- 41 percent compared to 53 percent in March 2003, and just as many were frightened -- 37 percent against 36 percent 14 months ago.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040528/ts_alt_afp/us_iraq_poll&cid=1506&ncid=1480

[havocmom]

1. When people know people who come home in boxes

everybody wakes up to the real costs of war and start wondering if the war is one that legitimately has to be fought.

When the press starts reporting the profiteering going on, people start to see that their sons and daughters are paying with blood for some CEOs glowing quarterly report to shareholders.

When pictures come out showing Americans torturing Iraqis, people know that is not what America means to them and they hate that it is what America is coming to mean to many others.

Americans are finally getting enough real news now to see the junta is engaged in policy which is only in the best interest of the junta.

[Bandit]

4. Not just boxes ~ We rarely hear about wounded Veterans but they also

are returning home. They have as big an impact almost as the dead. They are a constant reminder. You grieve over your dead for a year or so and then time moves on but those wounded are a constant reminder that you live with every single day forever. And then there is the mental problems that war creates for those that have participated. PTSD is a very real problem and it will be a factor for many National Guardsmen and Reserves that return home. This invasion will impact America for some time yet to come.

[AndyTiedye]

7. Maybe Bigger

We still see walking wounded ex-GIs from Vietnam begging in the city,
and that war was 30 years ago.

[struggle4progress]

2. "59 percent thought Bush lacked a clear plan for the future"

They should start asking how many people think * can brush his teeth without help.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. They're only worried about the price of oil/gas

Nobody talks about this "war", the man on the street probably doesn't even know that there is as war.

[Beetwasher]

5. 50% Dissaproval!

48% Approval....

45% Bush vs. 44% Kerry...:shrug:

WP/ABC ALWAYS Heavily slants to Bush....

[robbedvoter]

6. 50% disapproval rate - dead heat between candidates my foot!

This article spins for W with desperation. Burried lead:

US President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s approval ratings have dropped almost across the board, with 50 percent disapproving of how he is handling his job as president against 48 percent who gave him thumbs-up -- a three percent change, up and down respectively -- from a month ago.

[Joanne98]

8. If your not angry, you're either stupid, insane or evil.

Wait till they find out the draft is coming back. hahahaha

[indepat]

12. That would cover the plethora of brain dead, brain-washed and bad asses

who have permeated our society and nation these past 32+ months.

[damnraddem]

9. Dubya increasingly really is ...

between Iraq and a hard place.

[central scrutinizer]

10. angry? WTF does that mean

I skimmed the story and didn't see the exact wording of the question but angry could have almost diametrically opposite meanings. I am angry that this administration illegally invaded a country and resulted in thousands of deaths as a PR stunt. A freeper might be angry that Iraq is not already a smoking, highly radioactive hole in the ground.

[cliss]

11. Just for the record, I was NEVER in favor of going to Iraq.

I knew it was going to be a disaster. And there's no good feeling about this, no gloating. Because I wasn't the only one.

Many, many millions in fact the vast majority of people around the world were opposed to this insane adventure. But they overrode everyone, all the pleading and arguments advising against this.

And now, a year later, it's a disaster just like they said it would be. Why do we have to be the guinea pig for these lunatics?