Roughly half of U.S. adults are woefully misinformed on ties among Iraq, Al Qaeda, and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to a new Harris Poll.
According to the poll, released today:
-- Only 46% said they knew the following statement to be not true: "Saddam Hussein helped plan and support the hijackers who attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001." Another 30% weren't sure, and 22% believed the statement to be true.
-- Only 42% said they knew the following statement to be not true: "Several of the hijackers who attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11 were Iraqis." Another 31% weren't sure, and 24% believed the statement to be true.
-- Only 33% said they knew the following statement to be not true: "Saddam Hussein had strong links with Al Qaeda." Another 24% were not sure, and an amazing 41% believed the statement to be true.
In other words, on three key questions regarding ties between Iraq, Al Qaeda and 9/11, a majority of Americans either are completely misinformed, or unsure of the truth — and thus open to misinformation.
How can this be? The 10-member bipartisan 9/11 Commission last year found "no credible evidence" that Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq collaborated with the al Qaeda terrorist network on any attacks against the U.S.
Specifically, the report says on page 66 that there was “no evidence” of any collaborative relationship between Saddam and 9/11 and no evidence that Iraq had anything to do with al Qaeda in “developing or carrying out any attacks against the United States.”
And yet, people are misinformed, or unsure of the truth?
Let's start with the lengthy number of high-profile speeches from senior Bush Administration officials to make the case connecting Iraq, Al Qaeda and 9/11. Consider this, this, this, and this from 2002 and 2003.
But that's old hat. How can people still be so unclear of the issues, four years after the terrorist attacks and roughly 18 months after the 9/11 Commission's report?
I blame the mysterious "they."
As JABBS has written before, President Bush often talks about the mysterious "they" when talking about the "war on terror." He mixes and matches events involving Al Qaeda and those involving the Iraqi insurgency, blending them as "they" or "them," discussing "their objectives," as if Al Qaeda and the Iraqi insurgency thought as one.
By doing so, Bush simultaneously justifies the Iraq War as part of the greater "war on terror," and (perhaps inadvertently) fuels the right-wing mythmakers who hope someday to find proof tying together Iraq, Al Qaeda and 9/11.
In a national address in June, for example, Bush said this:
Article comments
1 - Jackson
Thanks, David. That was an informative but deeply disconcerting piece. Good work!
2 - Triniman
Good article.
There's a lot of issues that people are uninformed / misinformed about. If there was a litmus test for voting (or if folks had to explain their opinions on issues), probably a lot would be deemed to be too clued out to qualify. This applies to all countries in the world. Our elected officials know this, and operate government by the grace of our apathy, the depth of our ignorance, and by the power of our short term memory. Works pretty well, wouldn't you say?
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
I remember James Woolsey (former CIA director) on Bill Maher saying it was found there was a non-operative tie between al-Qaeda and Iraq, i.e. training.
Bravo on not blaming Fox News.
4 - Aaman
Good post - I believe a similar poll, taken internationally would have similar results.
5 - Dave Nalle
It may surprise you to think that there are some Americans continuing to make false claims of ties between Iraq, Al Qaeda and 9/11. But it's true. And there (sic) efforts only help to keep Americans in the dark.
And these claims are presumably different from the well documented and widely known facts connecting Iraq and Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups?
According to a Dec. 28 story in the Wall Street Journal, the "media-savvy" and Orwellian-titled Move America Forward
As opposed to the even more media savvy and orwellian moveon.org who their name is a riff on.
is advertising the ridiculous claim that newly discovered documents prove "extensive ties" between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. Why haven't you heard about these documents from the media, or even the Bush Administration? According to Move America Forward, the discoveries are conveniently being "covered up."
And you have proof that they are wrong which you're saving for later?
Dave
6 - troll
David - your stuff is way strong. Check these guys out as another possible outlet - new but promising
troll
7 - Bennett
Good post David, and great comment Triniman!
8 - Christopher Rose
new associate scheme troll?
9 - troll
associate scheme?
I stumbled on the site while trolling...is there a problem mentioning other developing sites here?
troll
10 - troll
ok...so who nuked the thread?
11 - Christopher Rose
weirdness is in the house
12 - Shark
From what I hear, there's also a "War on Christmas" going on -- and Saddam, bin Laden, and lots of pesky atheistic liberals are behind it!
Bush Administration's New Rule:
No box cutters allowed on Santa's sleigh
I'm feeling safer already!
13 - Bliffle
Speaking for the Victorious Enemies Of Christendom I'm declaring this war over! We Won! Even now the xmas decorations are being removed, even in your town.
14 - Emiliano
"Good post - I believe a similar poll, taken internationally would have similar results"
You wish...