The latest polling data show something worth remembering as we head into war. USA Today’s poll shows the highest levels supporting an invasion of Iraq – 64 percent – since November 2001, a jump of five points from two weeks ago. 57 percent say that the Bush administration has made a convincing argument for intervention. This is far higher support for war than before the first Gulf War and a remarkable finding, to my mind, given the relentless anti-war propaganda flooding the airwaves. Americans see the danger; and they want to act. Finally, the determination of this country to defend itself is going to be demonstrated. We can only pray now that the war is as successful as possible and as casualty-free on both sides as any such war can be.
THE HOUSE THAT JACQUES BUILT: And part of the credit for firming support for taking down Saddam must surely go to Jacques Chirac. Over the weekend, perhaps sensing his over-played hand, the president of the French Republic backtracked a little. But the damage has been done. USA Today’s polling of American attitudes toward foreign countries reveals how deep the chasm has become. Only 20 percent now think of France as an ally. 40 percent think of France as either “unfriendly” or an “enemy.” 68 percent of Americans believe that France has behaved unreasonably at the Security Council, and blame France primarily for the diplomatic failure. 68 percent think the Bush administration has diplomatically done the best job possible or a fairly good job; compared with 31 percent that thinks it’s done a fairly bad job or completely mishandled the problem. For Blair, the intransigence of the French has been a particular blessing. His parliamentary supporters are putting out the line that the essential decision Britain has to make is whether British foreign policy will be dictated by Paris – not a popular option in Middle Britain. Everything depends now, of course, on the conduct of the war. But if it is successful, France will be more diplomatically isolated and politically weak than at any time in decades. Or maybe that’s too much to hope for.
The Dish 