New Poll: 65% said they believed Bush 'had underestimated the number of troops needed in Iraq
Members of the military and their families say the Bush
administration underestimated the number of troops needed in Iraq and
put too much pressure on inadequately trained National Guard and
reserve forces, according to a poll released Saturday. This critical
view comes from a military group that has a more favorable view of
President Bush, Iraq, the economy and the nation's direction than
Americans in general. The National Annenberg Election Survey found that
62 percent in the military sample said the administration didn't send
an adequate number of troops to Iraq. And 59 percent said too much of a
burden has been put on the National Guard and the reserves when regular
forces should have been expanded instead. Family members were more
critical of the administration's Iraq policy than those on active duty.
A slight majority of the military and families, 51 percent, said
showing photos of flag-draped coffins being returned to Dover Air Force
Base in Delaware would increase respect for the troops. [more ]
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