[PEN-L:33369] Frist monitoring war sentiment

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I was interested that Senator Frist's website includes a continual
barometer of feeling about war. The questions are nuanced, no doubt for the
result he wants, but also to get information at the margin of what is
politically prudent or not.

>  Should the United States use force to remove Saddam Hussein from power?
>
> An invasion of Iraq is not warranted at this time. The United States
> should proceed cautiously and work with the United Nations with the goal
> of the reintroduction of weapons inspectors into Iraq.
>
> currently 49.9%
>
> The risks of inaction with respect to Saddam Hussein are great and the
> danger is growing. Saddam has used weapons of mass destruction against his
> own people and is actively seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. He has
> evaded inspections in the past and poses a grave national security threat
> to the United States and its neighbors. The United States and its allies
> should remove Saddam Hussein by force if necessary.
>
> currently 48.1%


Yesterday the figure for the (more) peaceful option was over 50%. Probably
these sort of barometers are used to discuss trends rather than as a direct
indication of democracy.

The website is good and one of the three polls is about people's reaction
to the website.

It suggests to me that Frist is part of the elite intelligentsia. To be a
modern heart transplant surgeon is not to be a hero, although charisma
probably helps,  but to be a technical  and human manager, or to have good
people to do that.

Blair will consult with Alistair Campbell about monitoring attitudes to
war. That is how the governments of the two countries can give a strong
impression that war is inevitable, even though the populations are deeply
unconvinced. The management of public opinion has become a skilled
technical job.

Chris Burford

London