I have to wonder, given the polling results on the question of troop morale.

Democrats fumed last week at Vice President Dick Cheney's suggestion that criticism of the administration's war policies was itself becoming a hindrance to the war effort. But a new poll indicates most Americans are sympathetic to Cheney's point.

Seventy percent of people said criticism of the war by Democratic senators hurts troop morale — with 44 percent saying morale is hurt "a lot," according to a poll taken by RT Strategies.

Even self-identified Democrats agree: 55 percent say criticism hurts morale.
The results surely will rankle many Democrats, who argue that it is patriotic to call attention to what they say are flaws in President Bush's strategy for Iraq. But the survey itself cannot be dismissed as a partisan attack. Thomas Riehle, a Democrat, and Lance Tarrance, a veteran GOP pollster, make up the RT in RT Strategies.

Their poll also indicates many Americans are skeptical of Democratic complaints about the war. Just three out of 10 adults accept that Democrats are leveling criticism because they think this will help U.S. efforts in Iraq. A majority think the motive is to "gain a partisan political advantage."

My take? I believe that the American public does not want the war in Iraq to continue one second longer than it needs to – but knows damn well that any exit strategy except victory for the US and a functioning, secure Iraq is unacceptable. That means that Americans are not in bed with MoveOn.Org and Cindy Sheehan, but are much closer to the position advocated by the Bush Administration. And even more importantly, the American people do not see the Surrender Party’s words a s being based upon patriotism – they recognize the newly vocal rhetoric as nothing more than political hackery of the most insidious kind, morale-sapping partisanship that does nothing to help reach the goal of a true peace with honor.

Posted by: Greg at 10:22 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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