On the day President Bush was set to address the nation on the war in Iraq, the Washington Post and ABC News released a poll showing that a strong majority of Americans favored staying the course in Iraq, even though the same poll showed Bush with a low approval rating.
The Post-ABC poll completed June 26 showed Bush??¢â???¬â???¢s approval at 48%. (His approval rating peaked in this poll at 92% in October 2001, a month after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.) Only 43% now approve of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq, and only 46% say they believe the war had been worth fighting. Nonetheless, 52% said it had ??¢â???¬?????contributed to the long-term security of the United States.??¢â???¬ Respondents were asked, ??¢â???¬?????Do you think the United States should keep its military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there, even if that means continued U.S. military casualties; or, do you think the United States should withdraw its military forces from Iraq in order to avoid further U.S. military casualties, even if that means civil order is not restored there???¢â???¬ Fifty-eight percent said keep the troops there.
