ABC Poll: Americans Believe Bush on Iraq

Dec. 17 -- With the United States soon to issue its critique of Iraq's weapons declaration, the vast majority of Americans believe Baghdad does possess weapons of mass destruction — but a growing number want to see the Bush administration's evidence.

Fifty-eight percent in this ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll say they'd like to see President Bush present more evidence against Iraq before taking action, up eight points since September. Fifty-four percent also express concern Bush will move too quickly against Iraq, rather than too slowly.

These cautions serve as a counterpoint to a sharp jump in the number who think war is on the way — now, 87 percent, up from 71 percent late last summer.

One important factor in the public's cautious approach is its doubt about the immediacy of the threat. Eighty-one percent of Americans see Iraq as a threat to the United States. Fewer but still a majority, 64 percent, think that threat is a substantial one. But far fewer still, 44 percent, see Iraq as an "immediate" danger.

Public Support Conditional

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This lack of immediacy is one reason that public support for military action against Iraq is conditional — indeed so conditional there's room to doubt how committed that support may prove to be.

Most broadly, 62 percent of Americans support U.S. military action against Iraq to force Saddam Hussein from power, unchanged since the end of September. But when those who support military action in general are asked about specific circumstances — a major bombing campaign, unilateral action, a ground war, a high casualty ground war — support drops below a majority, to anywhere from 50 percent to 30 percent.

Fifty percent of Americans support a major U.S. bombing campaign against Iraqi military targets. Forty-five percent support using U.S. ground troops to invade Iraq, and this falls to 30 percent if it means a high-casualty ground war. Support for military action drops to 42 percent in the face of allied opposition, and to 37 percent if the United Nations opposes it.