However, the numbers have fallen substantially this year
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- More than four years after the
attacks of September 11, 2001, many U.S. adults still believe some of the
justifications for the invasion of Iraq, which have now been discredited,
according to a new Harris Poll. For example:
-- Forty-one percent (41%) of U.S. adults believe that Saddam Hussein had
"strong links to Al Qaeda."
-- Twenty-two percent (22%) of adults believe that Saddam Hussein "helped
plan and support the hijackers who attacked the United States on
September 11."
-- Twenty-six percent (26%) of adults believe that Iraq "had weapons of
mass destruction when the U.S. invaded."
-- Twenty-four percent (24%) of all adults believe that "several of the
hijackers who attacked the United States on September 11 were Iraqis."
However, all of these beliefs and others have declined sharply since the
questions were asked in February 2005. For example:
-- Those who think Saddam Hussein had strong links to Al Qaeda have fallen
from 64 to 41 percent.
-- Those who believe that Iraq was a serious threat to U.S. security are
down from 61 to 48 percent.
-- Those who think Saddam Hussein helped plan 9/11 are down from 47 to
22 percent.
-- Those who think Iraq had weapons of mass destruction are down from
36 to 26 percent.
-- Those who think Iraqi hijackers attacked the United States on 9/11 have
fallen from 44 to 24 percent.
Although public support for the war in Iraq has been waning, a 56 percent
majority of all adults believe that "the Iraqis are better off now than they
were under Saddam Hussein." However, this has also fallen from 76 percent
since February.
These are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 1,961 U.S. adults
surveyed online between December 8 and 14, 2005 by Harris Interactive(R).
These new poll findings and trends show how slowly most people change
their minds once they believe something to be true. Nevertheless, they also
show that, over time, beliefs can change greatly.
TABLE 1
WHAT THE PUBLIC BELIEVES TO BE TRUE
"Do you believe that the following statements are true or not true?"
Percent saying "true"
Base: All Adults
October February December
2004 2005 2005
% % %
The Iraqis are better off now than they
were under Saddam Hussein. 76 76 56
Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, was a
serious threat to U.S. security. 63 61 48
Saddam Hussein had strong links with
Al Qaeda. 62 64 41
Saddam Hussein helped plan and support
the hijackers who attacked the U.S. on
September 11, 2001. 41 47 22
Iraq had weapons of mass destruction
when the U.S. invaded. 38 36 26
Several of the hijackers who attacked
the U.S. on September 11 were Iraqis. 37 44 24
TABLE 2
WHAT THE PUBLIC BELIEVES TO BE TRUE AND NOT TRUE
"Do you believe that the following statements are true or not true?"
Base: All Adults
True Not Not Decline
True Sure To Answer
The Iraqis are better off now
than they were under Saddam
Hussein % 56 16 25 3
Iraq, under Saddam Hussein,
was a serious threat to U.S. % 48 35 15 2
Saddam Hussein had strong
links with Al Qaeda % 41 33 24 2
Iraq had weapons of mass
destruction when the U.S.
invaded % 26 50 22 2
Several of the hijackers who
attacked the U.S. on
Sept. 11 were Iraqis % 24 42 31 3
Saddam Hussein helped plan
and support the hijackers
who attacked the U.S. on
Sept. 11, 2001 % 22 46 30 2
Methodology
The Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between
December 8 and 14, 2005 among 1,961 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for
age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where
necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the
population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for
respondents' propensity to be online.
In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95
percent certainty that the overall results have a sampling error of plus or
minus 2 percentage points of what they would be if the entire U.S. adult
population had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are
several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are
probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They
include refusals to be interviewed (nonresponse), question wording and
question order, and weighting. It is impossible to quantify the errors that
may result from these factors. This online sample was not a probability
sample.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls.
J W26225
Q 646
The Harris Poll(R) #95, December 29, 2005
By Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive.
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com), based in
Rochester, New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market
research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll(R) and for
its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry. Long
recognized by its clients for delivering insights that enable confident
business decisions, the Company blends the science of innovative research with
the art of strategic consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable
and enduring value.
Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States,
Europe (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its
wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (http://www.novatris.com),
and through an independent global network of affiliate market research
companies. EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, go to http://www.harrispollonline.com.
Press Contacts:
Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316
Kelly Gullo
Harris Interactive
585-214-7172
Harris Interactive Inc. 12/05
SOURCE Harris Interactive
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Related links:
http://www.harrisinteractive.com
CONTACT:
Nancy Wong, +1-585-214-7316, or Kelly Gullo,
+1-585-214-7172, both of Harris Interactive
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