This can’t be spun as good news for the White House, the GOP or for those who don’t feel some kind of change needs to be made in Iraq War policy:
A poll conducted for CNN over the weekend suggests support among Americans for the war in Iraq is dwindling to an all-time low. Just 34 percent of those polled say they support the war, while 64 percent say they oppose it.
Women led the opposition, with seven in 10 saying they oppose the war. Twenty-eight percent say they support it, which is the lowest support among women in any CNN poll taken since the invasion more than three years ago.
Support among men is stronger, with 40 percent supporting the conflict and 58 percent opposed to it. (Watch how an axis of anxiety is developing on Iraq and North Korea — 1:44 Video)
This comes as the nation’s top general acknowledged the overall strategy in Iraq is under review. Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CNN that military plans, including the linchpin of U.S. exit strategy — reliance on Iraqi forces to take up the fight — is being reviewed. (Full story)
Troop withdrawal is a key condition for ending the insurgency, according to one of Iraq’s most visible insurgent groups. A man believed to be the spokesman for the Islamic Army of Iraq issued a videotaped message Sunday reiterating interest in negotiating with U.S. forces. (Full story)
However, President George W. Bush personally assured the Iraqi prime minister Monday that he has no plans to pull U.S. troops out and that there is no U.S. timeline for Iraqi forces to take over.
A couple of things:
(1) The gender gap may be returning which isn’t good news for the GOP since it’s not on its side.
(2) This poll suggests that as the elections approach Americans more than ever oppose the war. This means these Americans — no matter what the specifics of their opposition may be — don’t want to “stay the course.”
(3) Bush’s assurances to the Iraqi prime minister means Americans who want a change in the war will likely cast their ballots for a change in party. There is little sign from Republicans as a group that after the election that if they win control there will be shift to authentic Congressional or pressure from Congress for a better policy or even a vague withdrawal date. The bipartisan commission headed by former Bush I Secretary of State Jim Baker is hinting there will be suggestions for a change — but those are just that…hints and suggestions.
(4) The many arguments by the White House in favor of the war have not convinced the bulk of the American people.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.