(no subject)

[jfb]

The major media outlets now provide a daily scorecard of which governments have agreed to a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Are there any countries, aside from the U.S., where the public supports a war?

(I just checked the latest polls to make sure we're still pro-war. Apparently, Americans still favor a war but will oppose it if Iraq destroys some missiles tomorrow, a result that I find bewildering. Lots of other fascinating numbers in this poll.)

Comments

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

"Intended" is a tricky word there -- I wish there were stronger controls (or, indeed, any) on polls to adhere to decent testing methology and report their methods. Although maybe they do and we just don't get to hear it through the grapevine.

I just can't help getting the feeling that these polls are full of statistical slants: "we asked 100 people in Texas", "we asked 100 people who happened to be home when we called at noon", "we asked 100 college students", etc. Not to mention how small samples and the tendency of reporters to leap to the wrong conclusions mess things up. (Remember when "better results within the African/Asian population" in the AIDS vacine got blown out of proportion? The sample in that case turned out to be something like 13 people, and yet some news services briefly seized on it as a cure for those areas.)

[jfb.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there are sample errors, although I would expect Gallup to avoid the more obvious ones. Also, as they state, "question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias".

But even among this sample, 40% of those who favor a war think their support for it rests on Iraq not destroying "certain missiles" this weekend!

I guess that's a pretty safe statement, though, for people who are sure Iraq won't disarm.