Examine public opinion polls related to U.S. policy on Iraq

Overview: Debate on the war in Iraq heats up in Washington, as the Bush administration seeks international and domestic support for its Iraq plan. A recent Pew Center research survey indicates that most Americans favor U.S. military action against Iraq, as long as the U.S. doesn't face thousands of causalities. What information should a person have to make an informed decision about whether the U.S. should attack Iraq?Do opinion polls accurately reflect public opinion? Have students critically analyze opinion polls that focus on whether the U.S. should attack Iraq.

Have students read the story "Lawmakers Debate the Issue of Iraq" and answer the following questions.

1. What is President George W. Bush's position on Iraq? Why is Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Poland? Why do Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio and former Vice President Al Gore want the Bush administration to slow down its push for action against Iraq? What is U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's position on the Iraq issue? According to the Pew Center research survey, how do Americans feel about the U.S. taking military action against Iraq?

2. Point out to students that, several research centers and news organizations, including the Pew Research Center and CNN.com, have conducted public opinion polls about whether or not the U.S. should attack Iraq. Ask students: What information do you think a person should have to make an informed decision on this issue? Have students, working in groups, comb multimedia resources to identify the results of different opinion polls on the Iraq issue. Instruct students to identify the political orientation of the polling organization, the questions posed, and the parameters of the survey. After groups share their findings, ask: What are the similarities and differences among these polls? Do these polls accurately reflect public opinion? State your rationale. Do you think these polls are important? Why or why not? Do you think you have enough information to make an informed decision on whether the U.S. should attack Iraq? Why or why not? If not, what information would you need? If so, what is your opinion on the issue?

3. Teachers: For a cnnstudentnews.com story and activity on President Bush's case against Iraq, go to:

"Bush to Saddam: Comply or face reprisal."