U.S. troops don't support the troops

Dubya's support at home has hit a new low. His leadership is now endorsed by only about one-third of Americans. More than that, most U.S. troops in Iraq want out.

It is clear that if it were up to the troops, the US would be out of Iraq by the end of the year. In a poll of troops in Iraqi bases, conducted by Zogby International, 72% said the US should withdraw in 2006; more than a third of those said the troops should leave immediately. Just over one in five agreed with the president that they should stay in Iraq "as long as needed".

Another striking element of the poll was the opinion of US soldiers over why they were there.

Only a quarter thought their role was establishing a democracy "that can be a model for the Arab world".

Nearly 86% said it was "to retaliate for Saddam's role in the 9/11 attacks", a role proved to have been non-existent.

Hey, but don't let that stop you, George. The administration is settling in for the long haul, and going ahead with its plan to construct giant permanent military bases in Iraq, as part of the neo-con strategy for turning Iraq into the base (or, as they say in Arabic, "al Qaeda") for U.S. domination of the Middle East. The President knows what it takes to be a leader. "If I worried about polls," he said, "I wouldn't be doing my job."