THE METHOD TO HIS MEEKNESS:

Iraq Support Steady in Face of Higher Casualties: Most Say Al Qaeda Is Weaker Than Before 9/11 (The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, September 17, 2004)

Most Americans think that the United States is winning the war on terrorism, and a solid majority believes that Al Qaeda and related terrorist groups are weaker now than they were before the Sept. 11 attacks. In addition, somewhat more Americans believe the war in Iraq has helped the war on terrorism rather than hurt that effort (46% helped, 40% hurt).

The latest nationwide poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted among 2,003 adults from Sept. 8-13, finds public attitudes on the war in Iraq remaining stable, with a notable exception. Since August, there has been a significant increase in the percentage who say that the number of American military casualties in Iraq is growing. Nearly half (46%) say that casualties over the past month are higher than they have been in recent months; in August, just 31% thought casualties were increasing.

However, the perception that casualties are rising has not materially affected opinion regarding the war itself. A majority of Americans (53%) continue to say the war was the right decision and about as many (54%) favor keeping U.S. troops in Iraq until the situation there has stabilized. These numbers have been consistent since spring.

And perceptions of the Iraq military effort remain unchanged, despite the upswing in casualties. A narrow majority (52%) believe the effort is going very or fairly well, while 44% think it is not going well.

In moving fairly dramatically to an anti-war posture Senator Kerry and the Democrats would appear to have determined that it is better to aim for presumably motivated 44% than to run the risk involved in parroting Mr. Bush's advocacy of liberty in the Middle East. They'll lose the presidential either way, but may be able to stem their losses in Congress and at the state level.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 17, 2004 6:29 PM