ARAB-US RELATIONS - March 20 - Most Americans Approve Of War On Iraq.

The poll conducted by New York Times/CBS News finds that 62% of adult US citizens think Pres. Bush is right in starting military action against Baghdad (see Iraq), while 35% say the UN and the weapons inspectors should have been given more time. (In 1991, the outbreak of Gulf war against Iraq received a higher level of support, with 79% saying Washington was correct in starting military action). The Times/CBS News poll says 59% say the beginning of hostilities in Iraq has increased the threat of terrorism against the US, and only 8% think the risk has decreased. But, according to a CNN/USA Today/ Gallup poll, also conducted late at night on March 20, 65% of Americans do not "personally feel any sense of danger from terrorist acts". Regardless of the lack of fear for their safety, most Americans reacted to the war with worry rather than relief. 54% said they were more worried when they heard the news, while 34% were relieved. The CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll asked those it polled whether they experienced a series of emotions on hearing the news that Washington was going to war. In response, 83% said they felt confident; 65% felt proud; 63% reacted with sadness; 56% were worried, and 34% were afraid. In the Times/CBS News poll, 49% said the war started much as they expected and 44% thought it would have begun differently. The polls have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.