A better summer for Iraq makes for a bad "Iraq summer"
Cliff May presents some encouraging poll numbers in support of his thesis that the left's "Iraq summer" has failed to create momentum in favor of accepting defeat and that, in fact, the left is further from accomplishing this goal than it was in the spring.
A Gallup poll reports that 61 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of General Petraeus, up 9 percent in just one week.Fifty-four percent of those surveyed said they believe Petraeus' plan for removing troops is the right pace or too quick. By contrast, only 33 percent view the withdrawal as moving too slowly.
Pew reports that nationally “57 percent of Americans who read or heard about Petraeus' testimony approved of his recommendations for Iraq, while only 28 percent of respondents said they disapprove.US News & World Report’s “Political Bulletin” highlighted polling that found when “[a]sked, ‘If General Petraeus asks for the troop level to remain in place for another nine months, would you approve or disapprove this proposal,’ 54% approve it; 43% disapprove. Independents track the overall response, with 53% approving the proposal and 43% disapproving it. 80% of Republicans back the idea while 67% of Democrats oppose it.”
Events on the ground in Iraq will determine future trends in American public on this score. The good news is that American public opinion still responds to events on the ground.
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