Poll: Public Expects ‘Significant’ Losses
The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 25, 2003; Page A22
By Richard Morin and Claudia Deane
Washington Post Staff Writers
Public support for the war with Iraq remains strong despite more grim news from the front, diminished expectations that the conflict will be brief and relatively bloodless, and the widespread belief at home that the looming battle for Baghdad will be particularly difficult, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted Sunday night.
The survey found that 54 percent of the country now believes the United States and its allies will sustain “significant” casualties in the war, up from 37 percent on Thursday, the day after President Bush declared war on Iraq and allied forces launched a limited airstrike on Baghdad.
Many Americans also expect a somewhat longer war than they did a few days ago. Nearly half — 45 percent — now expect the war to last months rather than days or weeks, up from 37 percent on Thursday. Eight in 10 expect a difficult fight to control Baghdad, a view shared by equally large majorities of those who support the war and those who oppose it.
“We think this is tough now, wait ’til we get to Baghdad,” said Mike Shipe, 28, a mechanic who lives in Columbus, Ohio. “That’s where they’re hunkered down. That’s where the real fighting is going to be. . . . It’s going to be a doozy over there.
