By Faye Vergara
More than 70 percent of Americans approved President Bush”s decision to give Iraqi leaders an ultimatum of leaving within 48 hours or expecting U.S. military action, according to the latest Washington Post poll.
Following President Bush”s speech Monday night, 510 adults nationwide were randomly selected to cast their own votes in telephone interviews. The poll resulted in 72 percent of Americans supporting President Bush”s ultimatum.
Of the Americans who voted, 71 percent believed that the only way to disarm Iraq would be through war.
However, other countries in the world do not support Bush”s decision to go forth with war.
Chinese President Hu Jintao continues to oppose Beijing”s position in the war. France and Germany are also against America”s stance.
Prime minister John Howard of Australia is the strongest support to Bush”s decision and said that his government would help during a U.S.- led attack by providing 2,000 of their soldiers.
Some students at BYU are supporting the president”s decision to go forth with military action.
“If there”s a whole nation being oppressed by an unstable dictator, then I think it”s a just cause to try and stop him from being in power and at least restore basic human liberties to the people,” said Tommy Forsyth, 24, a senior from Arcata, Calif., majoring in business.
Ryan Prows, 23, a junior from Layton majoring in History, said he believes that protesting a war would only support Iraq.
“I”m not a war lover, but I would never hold up a sign that says ”No war,” we don”t want to support Saddam,” he said.
Some students also showed concern for the innocent civilians that are under Saddam Hussein”s control, and agreed with war to disarm Iraqi leaders.
“Those people will be so much better off,” said Layne Molen, a senior from Kennewick, Wa., majoring in Management information systems.
Political Science Professor Richard Davis said he believes that during times of crisis, people can have new reactions that are different from their original ones.
“It”s a reaction called ”rally ”round the flag”,” said Political Science Professor Richard Davis. “People who were opposed to any national defense or foreign policy will sometimes begin to support the President, especially under a moment of crisis.”
He also said that although a poll may be one of the more accurate ways to discover the public”s opinions, it would not be completely accurate, because it does not ask all of the public.
When a poll is taken immediately after the President”s speech, certain reactions can be given, but if people wait a couple of days, the reaction might not be the same.
“Polls are like a snapshot,” Davis said. “It”s like a movie. At first, you might feel a certain way when you walk out of the movie, but if you wait a couple of hours, you might not feel the same.”
The margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus five percentage points.
