Public Staggered by Costs but Wants to Stay the Course

Americans are increasingly open to a major UN role in postwar Iraq, with about half (51%) saying the US should give up some military control to the UN to get other countries to send more troops there. Growing support for an expanded UN role in Iraq comes amid growing public concern over mounting US casualties and the rising cost of the operation. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, nearly six in ten Americans (59%) oppose President Bush's new request for $87 billion to underwrite military and reconstruction costs. The percentage of Americans who say the US made the right decision in going to war is holding steady at 63%, while 64% want the administration to maintain troops until a stable government is established. But Democrats are increasingly skeptical – as many as 44% want to withdraw the troops as soon as possible. – YaleGlobal