U.S. Public Sees Iraq War as Failure, Doubts Troop Buildup Worked

[Bronco_Beerslug]

It is, no matter how many times Bush says we must continue to support the theocracy he has created there.

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U.S. public sees Iraq war as failure, doubts troop buildup worked (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070911/world/us_iraq_ap_poll_1)
By Alan Fram

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. public sees the Iraq war as a failure and thinks the troop buildup there has not worked, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll indicates, suggesting the tough sell President George W. Bush faces asking Congress and voters for more time.

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/ca/nws/dec06/coffins-iraq-reuters-100x100.jpg


The pessimism expressed by most people - including significant minorities of Republicans - contrasted with the brighter picture offered by Gen. David Petraeus. The chief U.S. commander in Iraq told Congress on Monday the added 30,000 troops have largely achieved their military goals and could probably leave by next summer, though he conceded there has been scant political progress.

By 59 per cent to 34 per cent, more people said they believe history will judge the Iraq war a complete or partial failure than the number who said it would be a judged a success. Those calling it a failure included eight in 10 Democrats, three in 10 Republicans and about six in 10 independents, the poll showed - ominous numbers for a president who hopes to use a nationally televised address later this week to keep Republican legislators from joining Democratic calls for a withdrawal.

"We cannot take any of this administration's assertions on Iraq at face value anymore," said Democratic U.S. Representative Tom Lantos, a war foe and senior member of the House of Representatives armed services committee.

"And no amount of charts or statistics will improve its credibility."

Underscoring the public's negativity, four times as many predicted the war in Iraq would be judged as a complete U.S. failure as the number who see a complete success, 28 per cent to seven per cent.

When the Gallup Poll asked the same question in September 2006, 52 per cent said the war will be judged as a partial or complete failure, seven percentage points fewer than the AP-Ipsos survey.

"The enemy was in Afghanistan and I believe going into Iraq we took our eye off the ball," said Ann Bock, 66, a retired teacher and Democratic-leaning voter from Edmond, Okla., who participated in the survey.

In the poll - taken in the days just before Petraeus's long-awaited appearance - more people rated the troop increase a flop than a success by 58 per cent to 36 per cent, with three in 10 Republicans joining majorities of Democrats and independents in foreseeing failure.

Positive reviews of the troop increase were at about the same level as they were in mid-January, just after President George W. Bush announced the buildup.

That didn't match Petraeus's appraisal.
CONT.

[Bob]

I am sorry that the facts of progress do not match your version of reality, and the political bennefits that you may see in in defeat.

[Denver Crush]

What progress, we are no where closer to having the Iraqi government and security forces take over than the last report or the report before that. I cant really find where any progress has been made at all.

[ant1999e]

The troops did their job. The failure is with the Iraqi politicians. How can we force opposing iraqi politicians to agree when our own politicians can't do it?

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I am sorry that the facts of progress do not match your version of reality, and the political bennefits that you may see in in defeat.I'm sorry that there are people still around like you who refuse to believe the truth and reality and swallow the Bush BS. It weakens our country (ignorance and denial).

[TailgateNut]

The troops did their job. The failure is with the Iraqi politicians. How can we force opposing iraqi politicians to agree when our own politicians can't do it?


Agree 100%.

We can't force those camel jockey politicians to get their **** together, so why should we continue wasting time, $$$, and our soldiers' lives? To appease Bush?

[TailgateNut]

I am sorry that the facts of progress do not match your version of reality, and the political bennefits that you may see in in defeat.

The FACTS of PROGRESSHilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious!
F-in Sheep!

[Bronco Bob]

I am sorry that the facts of progress do not match your version of reality, and the political bennefits that you may see in in defeat.

I am sorry the reality of the failure in Iraq doesn't match your version of the
facts, and the GOP political benefits of wasting more lives and treasure in
what amounts to keeping a cork in the bottle.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

The failure is with the Iraqi politicians.

Riiiiiiight...the failure is all on them, not Bush (the dumb f@*k whose idea this was in the first place.)

[gunns]

I am sorry that the facts of progress do not match your version of reality, and the political bennefits that you may see in in defeat.

Your? How about OUR version? 60% of our version. Thank God I'm not as delusional as to have YOUR 34% version.

[ant1999e]

Riiiiiiight...the failure is all on them, not Bush (the dumb f@*k whose idea this was in the first place.)

Bush's lack of post invasion planning did get us into this mess. I have never denied that. That **** is in the past and there's nothing we can do today to change that. You can sit on the sidelines and bitch and complain all you want. The fact that these idiots can't get their **** together today for the sake of their own country is what is prolonging this mess.

[Bronco Bob]

Bush's lack of post invasion planning did get us into this mess. I have never denied that. That **** is in the past and there's nothing we can do today to change that. You can sit on the sidelines and b**** and complain all you want. The fact that these idiots can't get their **** together today for the sake of their own country is what is prolonging this mess.

So how long do we have to be there to babysit them until they do?
And how many American dead and wounded and how many dollars should
we spend in the time it takes? Frankly I don't think one more life or
dollar is worth it.

[Rohirrim]

http://www.goalsforamericans.org/gallery/d/187-2/1-17-05ColorizedIraqMap.jpg

As you can see, Anbar is huge. However it is 98% desert. Anbar holds 1/24th of the Iraqi population. The surge has worked in Anbar, according to Petraeus. There are reports from various Arab outlets that unemployment in Anbar is 80%. The only jobs are government jobs. Those who line up for government jobs often end up dead. Generally speaking, young men who are arrested in Anbar are usually found later, somewhere in the street or the desert, tied up and executed. Whatever industry that existed is destroyed. Attacks have gone from 400 per month to 100 per month. Fallujah, considered by Iraqis the capital of Anbar, is destroyed. When Bush flew in and said he was standing in the "heart of Anbar" it's helpful to realize that he never left the military airfield. The 30,000 troops who created this success in Anbar are leaving, not because of this success, but because the U.S. military cannot sustain the deployment for numerous reasons having nothing to do with this success. The Brits have pulled out of the South. Various militias, who are not aligned with the central government, are in control there. In the North, the Kurds are in control on a pretty much autonomous basis. The other provinces, in order to be domesticated the way Fallajuh was (some would say destroyed) will require far more than the 30,000 surge troops that are coming home next Summer. After all, if things are getting better in Iraq, why are we only pulling out the surge troops?

We are right back in Vietnam. "In order to save your village, we burned it to the ground."

[Bronco Bob]

And with 2 million Iraqis having fled to Syria, Jordan, and Iran,
and another 2 million displaced what you have in Iraq is many
areas have already been ethnically cleansed, so that is another
reason violence is down in some parts of Iraq. Everyone who
could be killed is already dead or has already left.

[alkemical]

And with 2 million Iraqis having fled to Syria, Jordan, and Iran,
and another 2 million displaced what you have in Iraq is many
areas have already been ethnically cleansed, so that is another
reason violence is down in some parts of Iraq. Everyone who
could be killed is already dead or has already left.

damn i could have opened up a U-haul.....

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Bush's lack of post invasion planning did get us into this mess. I have never denied that. That **** is in the past and there's nothing we can do today to change that. You can sit on the sidelines and b**** and complain all you want. The fact that these idiots can't get their **** together today for the sake of their own country is what is prolonging this mess.

Post invasion planning?

That's all?

So you're giving the pinhead a pass for his decision to invade on false pretenses?

And now you are blaming the victim for his difficulty in recovering from the chaos and destruction the pinhead has visited upon him.

How despicable! :thumbsdow

[ant1999e]

So how long do we have to be there to babysit them until they do?
And how many American dead and wounded and how many dollars should
we spend in the time it takes? Frankly I don't think one more life or
dollar is worth it.

Unfortunately until our honorable politicians decide enough is enough.

[ant1999e]

Post invasion planning?

That's all?

So you're giving the pinhead a pass for his decision to invade on false pretenses?

And now you are blaming the victim for his difficulty in recovering from the chaos and destruction the pinhead has visited upon him.

How despicable! :thumbsdow

Victims? The Iraqi politicians? You truly are an idiot.:loopy:

[jhat01]

I haven't heard a solution from you LABF. What's your way out of this mess. And spare me the "bush ****ed up, bush did this, bush did that" we all know that. He ****ed us up for the next 50 years probably. How would you fix it?

[Cito Pelon]

Bush's lack of post invasion planning did get us into this mess. I have never denied that. That **** is in the past and there's nothing we can do today to change that. You can sit on the sidelines and b**** and complain all you want. The fact that these idiots can't get their **** together today for the sake of their own country is what is prolonging this mess.

That's all true, but how long do we have to stay in Iraq to make "stability", i.e., a temporary truce? Ten more years? Five?

And then, when we the foreign invaders make stability, they'll go to it tooth and nail to divide the country into the oil-producing regions as if we had never been there. Syria, Iran, Turkey, they all had control of that region at one time, and want it again. There is little more that we can do in that region but stand back and try to manage the fallout.

We can't keep pouring treasure into that region for nothing, for no gain.

I like the troop buildup for one reason - it allows a nice strategic withdrawal. Yeah, that sucks, eh? Just that word, "withdrawal", chaps some people's hide real bad. Nobody likes to put so much effort into success and then have to "withdraw" without any success to point to, but that's how it goes a lot in war. You look to win the war, not every single battle. If you can't win a battle, you get out and save your resources to win the war. You don't put all your resources into one battle you can't win.

I like the troop buildup for that one reason, it secures a withdrawal. Get out by Christmas, 2008 while we have the troops to get out through the hell that Basra has become. If we don't get out while the British are there to protect us somewhat through the Basra corridor, then we'll have to take the Basra corridor on our own and get shot up to good god, or else have to airlift all our troops out.

[ant1999e]

That's all true, but how long do we have to stay in Iraq to make "stability", i.e., a temporary truce? Ten more years? Five?

And then, when we the foreign invaders make stability, they'll go to it tooth and nail to divide the country into the oil-producing regions as if we had never been there. Syria, Iran, Turkey, they all had control of that region at one time, and want it again. There is little more that we can do in that region but stand back and try to manage the fallout.

We can't keep pouring treasure into that region for nothing, for no gain.

I like the troop buildup for one reason - it allows a nice strategic withdrawal. Yeah, that sucks, eh? Just that word, "withdrawal", chaps some people's hide real bad. Nobody likes to put so much effort into success and then have to "withdraw" without any success to point to, but that's how it goes a lot in war. You look to win the war, not every single battle. If you can't win a battle, you get out and save your resources to win the war. You don't put all your resources into one battle you can't win.

I like the troop buildup for that one reason, it secures a withdrawal. Get out by Christmas, 2008 while we have the troops to get out through the hell that Basra has become. If we don't get out while the British are there to protect us somewhat through the Basra corridor, then we'll have to take the Basra corridor on our own and get shot up to good god, or else have to airlift all our troops out.

This sounds like a good idea to me. I'm ready to get out at anytime. We need a politician to emerge with a responsible and sensible plan to get us out.

[Bob]

It is, no matter how many times Bush says we must continue to support the theocracy he has created there.

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U.S. public sees Iraq war as failure, doubts troop buildup worked (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070911/world/us_iraq_ap_poll_1)
By Alan Fram

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. public sees the Iraq war as a failure and thinks the troop buildup there has not worked, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll indicates, suggesting the tough sell President George W. Bush faces asking Congress and voters for more time.

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/ca/nws/dec06/coffins-iraq-reuters-100x100.jpg


The pessimism expressed by most people - including significant minorities of Republicans - contrasted with the brighter picture offered by Gen. David Petraeus. The chief U.S. commander in Iraq told Congress on Monday the added 30,000 troops have largely achieved their military goals and could probably leave by next summer, though he conceded there has been scant political progress.

By 59 per cent to 34 per cent, more people said they believe history will judge the Iraq war a complete or partial failure than the number who said it would be a judged a success. Those calling it a failure included eight in 10 Democrats, three in 10 Republicans and about six in 10 independents, the poll showed - ominous numbers for a president who hopes to use a nationally televised address later this week to keep Republican legislators from joining Democratic calls for a withdrawal.

"We cannot take any of this administration's assertions on Iraq at face value anymore," said Democratic U.S. Representative Tom Lantos, a war foe and senior member of the House of Representatives armed services committee.

"And no amount of charts or statistics will improve its credibility."

Underscoring the public's negativity, four times as many predicted the war in Iraq would be judged as a complete U.S. failure as the number who see a complete success, 28 per cent to seven per cent.

When the Gallup Poll asked the same question in September 2006, 52 per cent said the war will be judged as a partial or complete failure, seven percentage points fewer than the AP-Ipsos survey.

"The enemy was in Afghanistan and I believe going into Iraq we took our eye off the ball," said Ann Bock, 66, a retired teacher and Democratic-leaning voter from Edmond, Okla., who participated in the survey.

In the poll - taken in the days just before Petraeus's long-awaited appearance - more people rated the troop increase a flop than a success by 58 per cent to 36 per cent, with three in 10 Republicans joining majorities of Democrats and independents in foreseeing failure.

Positive reviews of the troop increase were at about the same level as they were in mid-January, just after President George W. Bush announced the buildup.

That didn't match Petraeus's appraisal.
CONT.

I do think there is measured progress, but think that the media and the far left would rather sacrifice American solders and support our enemies. The media IS very slanted to the left, and it does not surprise me that at every turn they look for ways to get a short term 08 victory.

If the left gets thier girl in office -- I say fine -- if they will then report what is really happening in Iraq -- as I suspect they will. We will then make real progress magicly over night. That is honestly fine with me, as this war with radical Islam is real, and I dont care that much who gets credit.

I think the left would loose any war lasting longer than 6 months with a Republican in office. When our children are hit next -- I hope that you are willing to fight this real war we are in. Right now the far-left's talking points are lock-step with Syrian TV -- wasnt a Dem Pres wanabe over there recently?

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Victims? The Iraqi politicians? You truly are an idiot.:loopy:

Yo moron:

The Iraqi politicians didn't ask Bush to invade their country and turn it into a shambles.

What part of this simple fact can't you wrap your mind around?

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

I haven't heard a solution from you LABF. What's your way out of this mess. And spare me the "bush ****ed up, bush did this, bush did that" we all know that. He ****ed us up for the next 50 years probably. How would you fix it?

:oyvey:

You conservatives never cease to amaze me with the way you get things bass-ackwards.

I was one of those people who warned (quite strenuously, I might add) against invading Iraq, warned against giving the Smirking Sociopath a second term, etc., etc.

And now you're busting my chops for not giving you a solution to problems that are the direct consequence of you and your boy Bush doing exactly what I urged you not to do in the first place?

Do you people ever take responsibility for anything you do?

[Rohirrim]

I do think there is measured progress, but think that the media and the far left would rather sacrifice American solders and support our enemies. The media IS very slanted to the left, and it does not surprise me that at every turn they look for ways to get a short term 08 victory.

If the left gets thier girl in office -- I say fine -- if they will then report what is really happening in Iraq -- as I suspect they will. We will then make real progress magicly over night. That is honestly fine with me, as this war with radical Islam is real, and I dont care that much who gets credit.

I think the left would loose any war lasting longer than 6 months with a Republican in office. When our children are hit next -- I hope that you are willing to fight this real war we are in. Right now the far-left's talking points are lock-step with Syrian TV -- wasnt a Dem Pres wanabe over there recently?

I could hold this up as a perfect example of why America is already doomed. Yesterday, a new poll was released showing that more than 56% of the American people believe that America was founded as a Christian country and that we are failing now because we have strayed from Christian principles. Basically, a large part of this country, if not the majority, consists of uneducated sheep.

"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." Th. Jefferson

[jhat01]

:oyvey:

You conservatives never cease to amaze me with the way you get things bass-ackwards.

I was one of those people who warned (quite strenuously, I might add) against invading Iraq, warned against giving the Smirking Sociopath a second term, etc., etc.

And now you're busting my chops for not giving you a solution to problems that are the direct consequence of you and your boy Bush doing exactly what I urged you not to do in the first place?

Do you people ever take responsibility for anything you do?


Man, I should have listened before i sent those troops in! You're amazing, spinning it up and lumping me together with Bush because I'm more conservative than you. You no nothing about me lol. But just like I thought, you have no solution. You'd rather stand on the sidewalk with a sign.

[Bronco Bob]

Man, I should have listened before i sent those troops in! You're amazing, spinning it up and lumping me together with Bush because I'm more conservative than you. You no nothing about me lol. But just like I thought, you have no solution. You'd rather stand on the sidewalk with a sign.

The solution is not to elect a Bush wanna-be such as Guiliani or McCain or
Romney or Thompson, who are on record as wanting to continue Bush's
failed policies.