US Majority Still Believe in Iraq's WMD, al-Qaeda Ties

[Q]

Published on Thursday, April 22, 2004 by Inter Press Service

US Majority Still Believe in Iraq's WMD, al-Qaeda Ties

by Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON - U.S. public perceptions about former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's alleged ties to al-Qaeda and stocks of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) continues to lag far behind the testimony of experts, boosting chances that President George W Bush will be re-elected, according to a survey and analysis released Thursday.

Despite statements by such officials as the Bush administration's former chief weapons inspector, David Kay; its former anti-terrorism chief, Richard Clarke; former chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix, as well as admissions by senior administration officials themselves, a majority of the public still believes Iraq was closely tied to the al-Qaeda terrorist group and had WMD stocks or programs before U.S. troops invaded the country 13 months ago.

''The public is not getting a clear message about what the experts are saying about Iraqi links to al-Qaeda and its WMD program'', said Steven Kull, director of the Program'' on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland, which conducted the survey.

''The analysis suggests that if the public were to more clearly perceive what the experts themselves are saying on these issues, there is a good chance this could have a significant impact on their attitudes about the war and even on how they vote in November'', he added.

The survey and analysis found a high correlation between those perceptions and support for Bush himself in the upcoming presidential race in November. Among the 57 percent of respondents who said they believed Iraq was either ''directly involved'' in carrying out the 9/11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon or had provided ''substantial support'' to al-Qaeda, 57 percent said they intended to vote for Bush and 39 percent said they would choose his Democratic foe, John Kerry.

Among the 40 percent of respondents, who said they believed there was no connection at all between Saddam and al-Qaeda or that ties consisted only of minor contacts or visits, on the other hand, only 28 percent said they intended to vote for Bush, while 68 percent said their ballots would go to Kerry.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0422-09.htm

[Leilani]

1. What planet are these people living on?

I think they have heard the truth, & just ignore it!

[tom_paine]

11. Planet "Head Up the Ass", darlin'

n/t

[tom_paine]

2. A Testimony to the Effecitveness (still) of nazi-style propaganda

or Soviet, or whatever you choose to call the blanket of lies the Busheviks have thrown over this nation along with the parasitized, bullied wretched and pathetic remnants of the Formerly Free Press which spends most of it's time taking direction from the Nazi/Soviet-style Party-Loyal Sub-Media.

It still works. It still works WELL.

[Q]

6. Many Democrats don't like to see comparisons...

...between the Bush* Banana Republic(ans) and history's fascist governments. But here it is for all to see.

- The Bush* government regularly puts out a BIG LIE and then backtracks on page 22 where their supporters won't see it.

- The complicit media is most certainly perpetuating the lie...making little or no effort to inform the public about the original lies or correcting the record.

[mmonk]

3. Quite embarassing and why the rest of the industrialized world

think Americans (citizens not government) are a joke.

[xray s]

4. we have way too many stupid people in America

Did you ever see the TV show "Street Smarts"? That is what we are up against.

Dumb, ignorant, mindless, stupid, easily manipulated, incurious, uncaring, selfish, intoxicated, hypnotized, lazy, mentally soft, bigoted, prejudiced jerks all too willing to be led by the same to the end of the world in a blaze of pseudo-religious fantasy violence that they will gently float above in a mythic rapture and if that doesn't scare the piss out of you you don't have a pulse.

[Webster Green]

5. This should go against bush at his war crimes trial....

Americans serving with the PNAC Imperial Occupation Forces are slaughtering innocent Iraqi citizens because they think they are getting revenge for 9/11.

[Bill McBlueState]

7. There are a lot of international students in my department

They just don't understand how the American people can be so incurious and ignorant as to continue supporting Bush and the invasion. One told me, it's not enough to blame everything on Bush; the people have enabled him.

I agree; I can't give them any answers. What the hell is wrong with people?

[Q]

9. The Democratic party must accept their share of the blame...

...for 'enabling' Bush* and his puppet masters. Clinton couldn't pass wind without the Republicans pointing fingers, placing blame and calling for impeachment.

- Democrats should force their way in front of the cameras and microphones and SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT and continue to hammer home the truth until ALL Americans finally 'get it'.

[tom_paine]

12. Agreed.

So let's get in on the Democratic Party's ground Floor and CHANGE IT!

[Cocoa]

8. total media failure

the Bushies are unbelievably aggressive in their deceptions, and the press has to be equally aggressive in cutting through it. But they're not, they refuse to call a lie a lie.

[Q]

10. The media hasn't 'failed' as much...

...as they've participated in the facade. And let's not forget that a few brave reporters have exposed how the Bush* government has threatened their jobs and intimidated them into NOT reporting the truth.

- There's also the nasty little fact that MOST of the corporate media is owned by those who support this perpetual war and are making big bucks off their defense contractor subsidiaries.

[BabsSong]

13. This is the entire problem in trying to get through to these people..

..there is no way to be nice. It isn't that they are so darn busy or have reasoned and come to this conclusion. They are butt fucking ignorant assholes and proud of it. The very support for someone who is so blatantly mediocre like Bush shows how they adore the dumb. They don't even listen to news. They are too fucking dumb to even save themselves. Thus, I do reserve within me the right to savor their well earned misery if they keep voting these vermin in. I swear to god if they do it again this time, I'll outright work to have their pay cut, benefits eliminated, tougher and tougher laws to take everything they have if they miss one goddamn credit card payment, etc. Stupid dogs need to be treated like stupid dogs...and they are only going to learn if they get their noses rubbed in their messes. I will no longer support anyone who even remotely tries to help these people if they don't wake up in this election. Apparently the boys in the AFL-CIO were polled and adore Bush. I'll work to support candidates who want unions destroyed if this is who they vote for.

[Zuni]

14. I do not believe this

I do not know many people who think there is much of a chance of finding WMD

[Tellurian]

15. ordinarily, I agree with Common dreams...

Lobe's article,imho although informative, reads a little behind the curve. His meticulous analysis is based on in depth historical research which although true has been trumped by the opening of the media floodgates which were the nexus of the problem all along.

We have been through a tumultuous two weeks where our stilted political world seems to be righting itself again. I think, due partially to the 911 Commission's well oiled bipartisanship. They have been slowly cleaving material facts separating conjecture and fallacies from reality allowing the emergence of a clear picture of the run-up to the WTC attacks. The commission's persistence has allowed us to break through to the other side.

Having the Truth surface like some long, lost, friend has been the manna from heaven sustaining the multitudes who persevered, never giving up on the eventuality of ever hearing the Truth again.

Whatever- This is just my take on the changing dynamics over the last few days that have let a little light shine through.

[Cleita]

16. Some third world countries I traveled in.

The ragged person on the street was actually quite up on world events. They could figure out the truth from the lies and why can't we (they who think our Prez is wunnerful) do so?