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Special report: Bush takes blame in Iraq, adds troops

Most Americans oppose President George W. Bush's call to send additional U.S. military forces to Iraq and just over a third say the new plan makes victory there more likely, according to a poll published on Thursday.

Two Americans are watching TV when President George W. Bush is delivering his new Iraq strategy Wednesday. (Xinhua/AFP photo)
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Most Americans oppose President George W. Bush's call to send additional U.S. military forces to Iraq and just over a third say the new plan makes victory there more likely, according to a poll published on Thursday.

The new Washington Post-ABC News poll, conducted following Bush's speech Wednesday night in which he announced his new Iraq strategy, found broad and strong opposition to his call to send about 21,500 more troops to Iraq.

Sixty-one percent opposed the force increase, with 52 percent "strongly" opposing the build-up, while only 36 percent supported the additional troops and one-quarter was strongly supportive.

Support for adding troops was somewhat higher among the 42 percent of Americans who tuned into Bush's speech, the poll found. Forty-seven percent of viewers thought the increase was a good idea, and the president's supporters were more likely than others to watch or listen to his remarks.

The tepid response to Bush's new initiative was due in part to the public's broad opposition to the war and its skepticism about Bush's handling of the situation, The Washington Post reported.

For more than two years majorities of Americans have said the Iraq war was not worth fighting, and by nearly a 2-1 margin Americans disapproved of Bush's leadership on the issue, the newspaper said.

In the new poll, 57 percent, a new high, said the United States was losing the war in Iraq.

In his address, Bush called the situation in Iraq "unacceptable," saying for the first time that previous policies were inadequate. He pitched the troop increase as essential to victory in Iraq and as a way to hasten the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces.

The poll was conducted by telephone Wednesday among 502 adults and had a 4.5-point error margin.

A USA Today/Gallup poll released Tuesday also showed similar opposition to Bush's plan to build up U.S. troops in Iraq.

BAGHDAD, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iraqis expressed mixed reviews towards a new Iraq strategy declared by U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday, as some said it is only a pipe dream while others believe it is an encouraging strategy to get rid of chaos.

Jasim Adel, a Baghdad resident in his 20s, was disappointed with Bush's plan, wondering, "What's new in his speech? Bush is going ahead with his old policy only adding ... some troops and small changes."

Paper: success of Bush's new plan depends on Iraqis

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi's commitment holds the key to the success of U.S. President Bush's new plan to stabilize Iraq, the Los Angeles Times said Thursday.

Although Bush and his aides are confident that putting more American troops on the streets of Baghdad can help turn Iraq around, but what they do not know is whether the Iraqi government will do its part, the paper said in an analysis.

Russia opposes U.S. military reinforcement in Iraq

MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia opposes the U.S. military reinforcement in Iraq though it supports the United States in fighting terrorism, speaker of Russian lower house of parliament said on Thursday,

Russia "supports the U.S. steps aimed at fighting against international terrorism, but we have never supported bringing of troops in Iraq," Boris Gryzlov was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying in connection with statements of the American president on the enlargement of the U.S. military contingent in Iraq.