Less believe in Iraq WMDs: US poll

[Emillereid]

24feb04

THE number of Americans that believe the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction when US-led forces attacked the country in 2003 is declining, according to a Harris Interactive poll.

Fifty-one per cent of those polled believe that Saddam had the banned weapons - a drop from 61 per cent in mid-December following the capture of the former Iraqi dictator.

Forty per cent of those polls do not believe Saddam had WMDs, up from 32 per cent in December.

<snip>

The number of people that believe that "clear evidence that Iraq was supporting al-qaeda has been found in Iraq", is at 47 per cent, down from 53 per cent who believed that in December.

The poll was carried out among 1020 US adults between February 9 and 16.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,8775680,00.html

The astonishing thing is the number of people who still believe that Iraq had WMDs and were connected to al qaeda. I think Juan Cole called it right -- American suffer from "terminal stupidity" -- http://www.juancole.com/2004_02_01_juancole_archive.html#107726364676139542

[gristy]

1. I thought for sure you hadn't posted the LBN headline correctly

but you had. The correct headline would have been "Fewer believe in Iraq WMDs: US poll". Just a little pet peeve.

[progressiverealist]

2. unless you want to measure the people by weight

:)

[utopian]

4. That one bothers me too

But I'm an English teacher, so I'm probably hyper-sensitive.

[Emillereid]

6. I noticed the improper use of 'less' too -- and thought about

correcting it in my comment, but then thought I'd sound too school marmish. Glad I'm not the only one who cares.

[NeonLX]

3. Maybe not "terminal stupidity", but...

...very likely "terminal ignorance". They get their "news" in little two minute segments from CNN or AM radio; no analysis and no thought.

[Devil Dog Dem]

5. How can ANYONE believe they had them?

Have they been living in caves?

[dbt]

7. Behold the power of the Media Borg!

Bow before your thoughtscreens!

:evilgrin:
dbt