Iraq war leaves Americans skeptical of force: poll

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The war in Iraq has left Americans
skeptical about the use of military force as a tool to spread
democracy, according to a poll released on Thursday.

Seventy-two percent of those questioned said the conflict
has made them feel worse about the use of military force “to
bring about democracy” down the road, compared to only 20
percent who said it made them feel better about such a
prospect, the survey found.

It also found that nearly three of every four Americans
believe overthrowing Iraq’s government and trying to establish
a democracy in its place was not a good enough reason to go to
war there. The survey did not address the question of weapons
of mass destruction in Iraq.

“Most Americans do not appear to have been persuaded by
President George W. Bush’s … argument that promoting
democracy is a critical means for fighting terrorism and making
the world safer,” said Steven Kull, director of the Program on
International Policy Attitudes, a research group affiliated
with the University of Maryland.

His group produced the poll in conjunction with the Chicago
Council on Foreign Relations. It involved 808 people who were
interviewed from September 15 to 21 and had an error margin of
plus or minus 3.5 to 4 percentage points.

The poll also found that 64 percent were now ready to
accept an Iraqi constitution that does not fully meet
democratic standards.

If Iraqis vote to approve a new constitution in a coming
referendum, the United States should assume that the
implementation of democracy has been achieved and begin
withdrawing troops, 57 percent of those questioned said.