re: "Public ignores Iraq war naysayers" (Washington Times, 11/24/05)
http://insider.washingtontimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20051124-121037-1013r

See Pew Research Center study "America's Place in the World 2005" at
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=263

The Pew Center study on America’s place in the world demonstrates yet again the utter isolation of academics, including scientists, from the real world. It also reinforces the notion that the media, a group one would expect to have its finger on the pulse of the nation, is overly influenced by their left-leaning and often anti-American biases.

Given who is really taking the risk and seeing the situation in Iraq, I am inclined to put the most weight on the opinion of the military in likelihood of success and the quality of the thought process behind our Iraq involvement.

Interestingly, while the military has the highest percentage of respondents who thought taking military action was the right decision and that the war in Iraq has helped the fight against terrorism, they also believe more than any other group that calling for Democracy in the Mideast is a bad idea.

In any case, Pew shows us yet again why academics should not be taken seriously in most policy discussions and why the media should not be trusted to represent true public opinion.