Public Opinion, Presidential Politics and the War in Iraq

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Almost a year after American troops invaded Iraq, polls show that the public is starting to get impatient with US involvement in that country, and that's got some foreign policy experts worried. Declining public support could have a negative effect on President Bush and his commitment to rebuild Iraq. It could also impact voter attitudes in the presidential race and John Kerry-s bid for office. What are the foreign policy implications for the victor of November's presidential race? Is a bi-partisan effort needed to educate the public about the need for continued US involvement in nation-building in Iraq? Guest host Sara Terry discusses the politics of public opinion with pollsters and media experts, and Democratic and Republican strategists. Reporter's Notebook: What is ETA? Although it is becoming increasingly doubtful that ETA was behind today's terrorist attacks in Madrid, Spanish authorities initially singled out the Basque separatist group that has used terrorist tactics. The University of Nottingham's Paul Heywood, an expert on Spanish politics and the author of several books on the subject, offers a closer look at ETA, a group founded to combat the loss of cultural autonomy in Spain's Basque region. This program is an abbreviated version of To the Point, broadcast earlier today.
Almost a year after American troops invaded Iraq, polls show that the public is starting to get impatient with US involvement in that country, and that's got some foreign policy experts worried. Declining public support could have a negative effect on President Bush and his commitment to rebuild Iraq. It could also impact voter attitudes in the presidential race and John Kerry-s bid for office. What are the foreign policy implications for the victor of November's presidential race? Is a bi-partisan effort needed to educate the public about the need for continued US involvement in nation-building in Iraq? Guest host Sara Terry discusses the politics of public opinion with pollsters and media experts, and Democratic and Republican strategists.
  • Reporter's Notebook: What is ETA?
    Although it is becoming increasingly doubtful that ETA was behind today's terrorist attacks in Madrid, Spanish authorities initially singled out the Basque separatist group that has used terrorist tactics. The University of Nottingham's Paul Heywood, an expert on Spanish politics and the author of several books on the subject, offers a closer look at ETA, a group founded to combat the loss of cultural autonomy in Spain's Basque region.
This program is an abbreviated version of To the Point, broadcast earlier today. Guest host Sara Terry is an award-winning writer and photographer, who has written for the Christian Science Monitor, the New York Times, Fast Company, Rolling Stone and the Boston Globe. Her current photo-documentary project is "Aftermath: Bosnia's Long Road to Peace."

Pew Center poll on voters response to President Bush, Iraq

Council on Foreign Relations' report on Iraq, one year later

Bush campaign

Kerry campaign

ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna, Federation of American Scientists on)

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton