MyDD :: Americans Overwhelmingly Reject Notion of Invading Iran

Americans Overwhelmingly Reject Notion of Invading Iran

by Jonathan Singer, Mon May 14, 2007 at 10:08:00 PM EST

For those who believed that the Bush administration's days of trying to heighten hostilities with Iran were over, think again. Over the weekend, Vice President Dick Cheney stood on an aircraft carrier not far from Iranian territory threatening Iran with military force. Now it was already clear a few months ago that the Bush administration's saber rattling with Iran was not effective. And new polling from CNN underscores this reality.

A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll released Monday shows a majority of Americans oppose any military action against Iran and a large portion of Americans believe Iran is an enemy.

U.S. Military Action Against Iran

Favor 33%

Oppose 63%

Opinion of Iran

Ally 3%

Friendly 12%

Unfriendly 36%

Enemy 46%

Sample Size: 1,028 adult Americans
Sampling Dates: May 4-6, 2007.
Margin of Error: +/-3% pts

The Bush White House is desperately grasping for issues upon which it connects with the American people, fishing here and there for areas upon which it can at least command majority support. But these numbers show that Iran is clearly not that issue. Americans just do not trust this administration on foreign policy anymore -- a fact that could cause some serious long-term issues for the Republican Party, which is already reeling from its association with the war in Iraq.

And given that Iran appears to be an issue where the Democrats have a distinct advantage -- and I'd imagine that this polling reflects fairly strong sentiments, though admittedly I have yet to see enough polling or exactly the right questions to confirm this hunch -- it would seem prudent for Democrats in Congress to press the issue. Indeed Jim Webb has been trying to push the issue, though somewhat unsuccessfully given some opposition within the Democratic ranks. By putting Republicans on record as supporting a possible U.S. invasion of Iran, the Democrats could help solidify the GOP's image as wrong on matters related to the military and national security, making it yet more tough for Republicans to return to a position of power in elections to come.

Tags: Iran, Dick Cheney, Bush Administration (all tags)

Permalink :: 5 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Americans Overwhelmingly Reject Notion of Inva (none / 0)

33% SUPPORT military action, who the %#&! are these people!

by AC4508 on Mon May 14, 2007 at 11:11:55 PM EST

Re: Americans Overwhelmingly Reject Notion of Inva (none / 0)

Probably the same people who think we are WINNING in Iraq.

But these numbers don't reassure me. All it takes is one "incident" in the gulf where a US ship sinks and sailors die, and public opinion will flip overnight. Lest we forget, a strong majority supported invading Iraq at one point, and that was a country that never did a goddam thing to us. Iran "attacks" and people will rally.

www.thingsyoungerthanmccain.com

by LandStander on Tue May 15, 2007 at 01:42:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Americans Overwhelmingly Reject Notion of Inva (none / 0)

Agreed on both counts. See my comment below. This is scary stuff. Clearly, the only way to prevent war with Iran is to take away this administration's ability to make it happen. And it still does. Nothing rallies the public like being attacked. It screws up the brain and makes one ignore the facts. It's totally reptillian and since these Bushies all think like and are reptiles, they know how to do this. And Rove is nothing if he's not their Lizard King.

Congress has to ramp up its investigations and make something happen--soon.

by kovie on Tue May 15, 2007 at 02:17:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Americans Overwhelmingly Reject Notion of Inva (none / 0)

I'd like to see a partisan breakdown. It would be nice to know that a majority of Republicans support attacking Iran.

by The Animal on Tue May 15, 2007 at 03:04:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Not so sure--depends on the situation (none / 0)

I suspect that if they re-phrased that question to be "If Iran was behind a major attack on the US or US forces in the mideast, would you support an attack on it?", a majority would say yes. And, as we all know, if they do decide to attack Iran, they would first try to manufacture and/or provoke such an attack.

Yet another reason to get our forces out of harm's way. There is absolutely no reason for our carrier groups to be in the Straights of Hormuz right now, other than to provoke such an attack. I'm hoping that Cheney was just bluffing. We simply cannot afford the alternative. Unbelievably frightening to even imagine.

by kovie on Tue May 15, 2007 at 01:47:51 AM EST

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