Americans back Iraq war – warily

Still, many question the official reasons for ousting Hussein. (Nearly 40 percent say a major factor motivating administration policy is "diverting attention from the domestic economic situation.") And beneath the surface of support lies deep unease with America's role in the region – especially with the prospect of go-it-alone military action.

"I'm not opposed to the use of military force if there's a direct threat," says Sally, who works in a politically sensitive position in Washington and asks that her last name not be used. "But I feel like we're rushing into war."

Given last year's terrorist attack on the Pentagon, the anthrax episodes that followed, and the recent sniper killings in her area, Sally is very concerned about her own security. Her view is that the US should concentrate on stopping Al Qaeda. "Iraq is not Afghanistan," she says.

Margie Soni, who's a nurse practitioner in a clinic for the homeless in Boise, Idaho, thinks the US has "a legitimate role as the world's superpower ... but shouldn't be the bully on the block."

"I think [Hussein's] a bad guy," she says. "But I don't subscribe to the theory that it's up to the United States to decide who leads which country."

Others are blunter in their assessment.

"Sure, he's a dictator and maybe he's a terrorist," says Wren Osborn, a retired probation officer and public-school teacher in El Cajon, Calif. "But we're going off half-cocked for political reasons, for oil reasons, for hegemony reasons – who knows?"

While the armed services get consistently high public marks compared with other national institutions, that doesn't mean there's a rush to enlist. Only about half say they'd volunteer to serve in wartime or encourage a family member to do so. Barely more than one-quarter would favor reestablishing the draft if the US finds itself at war and needing many more active-duty personnel.

This is especially true of those who have served during past wars or those who come from military families.

Roy Williams of North Wilkesboro, N.C., has his own marketing business and he's also a United Methodist pastor. Some 30 years ago, he spent five years in the Air Force – some of that time with Special Forces units in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, a period in his life he doesn't readily discuss.

"Iraq is a threat," he says flatly. "If you pretend that [Hussein's] not there, you're going to have a monster."

"As Christians, we may think we can pray our way out of it," he continues. "But I'm reminded of when God sent the Israelites into battle."

But the tone in his voice indicates a sad resignation rather than any sense of triumph.

"The war we fight will be against a lot of innocent young men and women in Iraq," he says. "I don't want anybody to have to take a life, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do."

Page: 1 | 2