Poll: Most Don't Want Rumsfeld To Quit
Associated Press
May 8, 2004
WASHINGTON - A majority of Americans say they are upset about reports of abuse of Iraqi prisoners, though more than two-thirds say Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld should not resign, according to a new poll.
During congressional testimony Friday, Rumsfeld apologized to the Iraqi prisoners and warned members of Congress that the abuse scandal is "going to get a good deal more terrible, I'm afraid."
Photos of naked Iraqi prisoners being humiliated have angered many in this country and outraged people in the Mideast and elsewhere around the world.
The ABC News-Washington Post poll released Friday found that 66 percent believe the soldiers involved should be charged with a crime, and just over half, 54 percent, said high-level officers should be punished for allowing the problems that led to the abuse.
People were evenly split on whether the Bush administration acted quickly enough in investigating the reports and on whether the administration was trying to investigate the abuse reports or was trying to cover it up.
Just over half, 51 percent, said they were upset about the reports, including a quarter of those polled who said they were angry.
Most people, [b]69 percent, said Rumsfeld should not resign. Only 20 percent said he should resign[/b[, even though some Democratic lawmakers have been demanding the secretary's resignation. [b]Democrats in the poll said by a 2-1 margin that Rumsfeld should not resign.[/b[
Six in 10 said the abuse of Iraqi soldiers represents a few isolated incidents, while half that number, 31 percent, said they think the abuse was more widespread.
Asked whether they approve or disapprove of President Bush, 48 percent approved and 35 percent disapproved.
People were evenly split on whether the war in Iraq was worth fighting or not.
The poll of 802 adults was taken Wednesday and Thursday and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Associated Press
May 8, 2004
WASHINGTON - A majority of Americans say they are upset about reports of abuse of Iraqi prisoners, though more than two-thirds say Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld should not resign, according to a new poll.
During congressional testimony Friday, Rumsfeld apologized to the Iraqi prisoners and warned members of Congress that the abuse scandal is "going to get a good deal more terrible, I'm afraid."
Photos of naked Iraqi prisoners being humiliated have angered many in this country and outraged people in the Mideast and elsewhere around the world.
The ABC News-Washington Post poll released Friday found that 66 percent believe the soldiers involved should be charged with a crime, and just over half, 54 percent, said high-level officers should be punished for allowing the problems that led to the abuse.
People were evenly split on whether the Bush administration acted quickly enough in investigating the reports and on whether the administration was trying to investigate the abuse reports or was trying to cover it up.
Just over half, 51 percent, said they were upset about the reports, including a quarter of those polled who said they were angry.
Most people, [b]69 percent, said Rumsfeld should not resign. Only 20 percent said he should resign[/b[, even though some Democratic lawmakers have been demanding the secretary's resignation. [b]Democrats in the poll said by a 2-1 margin that Rumsfeld should not resign.[/b[
Six in 10 said the abuse of Iraqi soldiers represents a few isolated incidents, while half that number, 31 percent, said they think the abuse was more widespread.
Asked whether they approve or disapprove of President Bush, 48 percent approved and 35 percent disapproved.
People were evenly split on whether the war in Iraq was worth fighting or not.
The poll of 802 adults was taken Wednesday and Thursday and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
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