July 11 ? Americans are expressing rising dismay with U.S. casualties in Iraq, declining confidence in the Bush administration ? and growing doubt whether the war was worth fighting.
The administration faces trouble on credibility and casualties alike. Half the public thinks it "intentionally exaggerated" evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. And 52 percent, a majority for the first time, call the level of U.S. casualties "unacceptable."
While 57 percent still say the war was worth fighting, that's fallen from 70 percent as the main fighting wound down at the end of April. Eighty percent now express concern about getting "bogged down in a long and costly peacekeeping mission"; 43 percent are "very concerned" about that outcome, up 11 points since last month.
Bush's Approval at Lowest Since 9/11
Bush's own ratings have suffered in tandem with these concerns. His approval rating for handling the situation in Iraq has fallen by 17 points since the end of April, from 75 percent then to 58 percent now.
His overall job approval rating is down to 59 percent, matching its lowest since Sept. 11, 2001, in ABCNEWS/Washington Post polls. The number who "strongly" approve of his performance, 35 percent, is down 15 points since late April to a post-9/11 low.
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