Get ready for a staged 'incident' - New poll says Americans disapprove of Bush Iraq policy

U.S.: New Poll Indicates Majority Of Americans Disapprove Of Bush's Iraq Policy
By Andrew F. Tully

Washington, 4 November 2003 (RFE/RL) -- A new poll shows that less than half of Americans support the Iraq policies of U.S. President George W. Bush.

The poll, conducted last week by "The Washington Post" and the broadcaster ABC, found that 47 percent of those questioned approve of Bush's handling of the 7-month-old war in Iraq, while 51 percent disapprove.

The survey's results reflect opinions formed since the Iraqi resistance mounted devastating bombings in Baghdad against the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as the persistent attacks that have killed at least 138 U.S. soldiers since Bush declared the end of "major combat" in Iraq on 1 May.

The poll was conducted before the downing of a U.S. helicopter on 2 November that killed 16 U.S. soldiers. It was the single deadliest attack on U.S. forces since the war in Iraq began last March.