US Army Times poll: US military thinks 'surge' is a bad idea.

[TayTay]

Down on the war

Poll: More troops unhappy with Bush’s course in Iraq

By Robert Hodierne
Senior managing editor

The American military — once a staunch supporter of President Bush and the Iraq war — has grown increasingly pessimistic about chances for victory.

For the first time, more troops disapprove of the president’s handling of the war than approve of it. Barely one-third of service members approve of the way the president is handling the war, according to the 2006 Military Times Poll.

When the military was feeling most optimistic about the war — in 2004 — 83 percent of poll respondents thought success in Iraq was likely. This year, that number has shrunk to 50 percent.

Only 35 percent of the military members polled this year said they approve of the way President Bush is handling the war, while 42 percent said they disapproved. The president’s approval rating among the military is only slightly higher than for the population as a whole. In 2004, when his popularity peaked, 63 percent of the military approved of Bush’s handling of the war. While approval of the president’s war lead ership has slumped, his overall approval remains high among the military..

more at: http://www.militarycity.com/polls/2006_main.php

[beachmom]

1. I saw a post about this on Kos, and this poll is not representative

of all troops -- it's the most conservative sample you could get -- lifelong career officers -- only 16% are Democrats. Markos mentioned that it underrepresented the more liberal, younger recruits who don't stay in as long. So this represents true dissent in the ranks of the most conservative members of the armed forces.

And also of note -- it didn't get much play in the mainstream media. This is EXPLOSIVE news and should be out there.

[beachmom]

2. Related: read this heartbreaking story about Iraqi refugees and

how the U.S. is not helping them, even the ones who worked directly for the U.S. government in Iraq:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/02/world/middleeast/02refugees.html?ex=1325394000&en=ecd41eeff27f7aed&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[TayTay]

5. That is an awful story, just heartbreaking.

I am very glad that Sen. Kennedy is trying to get some of these people who have been actively assisting the US in Iraq visas to come to the US. That seems like the decent thing to do. (Uncle Ted is a good man.)

That Army Times story also talks about how much attitudes have changed since 2004. It specifically says that the survey of troops reflects attitudes that are a bit behind the US public. Hmmm, those numbers for 2004 are a lot different from the numbers for 2006. (BTW, how much did Kerry lose by in '04? Really, even with support numbers like those? Hmmmmmm.)

[ProSense]

3. Posted about it in

GD-P earlier:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3037663&mesg_id=3037663

[babylonsister]

4. After I saw this earlier, I sent it to KO. So you possibly had an affect

on Olbermann and Scarborough, because both were aware of it. :toast: