Americans, at the start of the Iran war, were largely negative. On March 1, CNN reported 41% in favor, and 59% opposed (-18%). More recently, however, the war has increased in popularity. RealClearPolitics lists recent polls, and finds that the average is 44.3% in favor, 47.7% opposed (-3.4%). That’s still negative overall, but just barely, and in fact less than 50% are actually opposed to the war. The Washington Post, in its most recent poll of March 9, even gives 42% for and 40% against (+2%). The usually pro-Trump Rasmussen poll gives 52% for and 42% against (+10%).
I was flabbergasted by this increase in popularity. Most of the articles I read consider the war an unmitigated disaster, which is looking more and more like a ‘forever war’ with global energy shortages and high prices, leading to possible economic collapse. How on earth could more and more Americans think this outrageous war is a good thing? This question has really puzzled me.
I have two or three possible explanations, but there may be others.
- 13 American soldiers have been killed. Americans are angry and howling for vengeance. No matter that we murdered 170 schoolgirls, those 13 Americans demand retribution. The greater the US destruction and death in Iran, the more that vengeance will be satisfied.
- Trump has bragged about US successes, claiming victory. The Trump-controlled media are saying that the war is a great success militarily. This makes Americans feel good. “Let’s continue to kick more ass!” may be the attitude of many Americans.
- At first, Trump thought that Iran would roll over and die, and that the grateful Iranian people would welcome US intervention and overthrow the régime. That didn’t happen. Angry Americans may feel “How dare they refuse to submit and continue to defy American might. Let’s teach those ingrates a lesson.”
Images like this enrage many Americans.
One other point: this change in attitude is not just a change in Trump’s approval. RealClear has his average approval spread at a fairly constant -11%. Compared to the war approval spread of -3.4%, that means that 7.6% still disapprove of Trump but support the war. This constant -11% also indicates that Trump has not lost support because of the war.