Nation & World News
Americans believe link exists
between Hussein, al-Qaida
The University of Maryland
poll reveals that many hold
views of the Iraq war not
supported by evidence
By Frank Davies
Knight Ridder Newspapers (KRT)
WASHINGTON — A new poll
shows that 57 percent of Americans
continue to believe that Saddam Hus
sein gave "substantial support" to al
Qaida terrorists before the war with
Iraq, despite a lack of evidence of that
relationship.
In addition, 45 percent of Americans
have the impression that "clear evi
dence" was found that Iraq worked
closely with Osama bin Laden's net
work, and a majority believe that before
the war Iraq either had weapons of mass
destruction (38 percent) or a major pro
gram for developing them (22 percent).
There's no known evidence to date
that these statements are taie.
U S. weapons inspector David Kay
testified before Congress in January
that no weapons were found and pre
war intelligence on Iraq was "almost
all wrong." CIA Director George Tenet
last month rejected assertions by Vice
President Dick Cheney that Iraq had
cooperated with al-Qaida.
Despite that record, many Ameri
cans continue to believe that the threat
from Iraqi weapons and its alleged
links to terrorism justified the war. That
conviction correlates closely with sup
port for the war and President Bush,
the poll released Thursday found.
For example, among those who say
most experts agree that Iraq had
banned weapons, 72 percent plan to
vote for Bush.
The poll for the University of Mary
land's Program in International Policy
Attitudes, conducted by Knowledge
Networks from March 16 to 22, sur
veyed 1,311 adults and had a margin
of error of 2.8 percentage points.
Claims by the Bush administration
about weapons of mass destruction in
Iraq and links to terrorism helped
shape public perceptions, said Steven
Kull, the director of the program. No
cause-and-effect relationship between
the beliefs and support for the presi
dent could be proved, however.
In the poll, roughly 4 in 10 Ameri
cans perceived the administration as
saying it had clear evidence that Iraq
possessed weapons of mass destruc
tion just before the war.
The administration has backed off
earlier claims that evidence of such
weapons was found, but the president
continues to say the weapons ques
tion is open. "We all thought he had
weapons," Bush said Wednesday.
(cj 2004, Knight Ridder/fribune
Information Services.
KIDS AT WORK
Tim Kupsick Freelance Photographer
In the Gumwood Room, sixth-grader Janie Craig (center) looks on as seventh-grader Hannah Douglas (left) passes her
icebreaker worksheet to sixth-grader Sierra Allen so that she can fill out one of the sheet’s many questions. Kids participated
in activities Thursday such as tours of McArthur Court during Take Your Child to Work Day.
HUGHES
continued from page 1
ASUO Accounting Coordinator
Jennifer Creighton-Neiwert said it is
Hughes' personality that makes her a
successful campaign manager.
"She's very friendly and open to
everybody," Creighton-Neiwert said.
Ravassipour describes Hughes as
"creative and bold."
"You need someone who has a
broader vision, which she has,"
Ravassipour added.
Hughes celebrated the day
Petkun and Ravassipour were elect
ed, but says she was disappointed
by the low voter turnout, which
was less than 10 percent.
"Voter apathy is ridiculous,"
Hughes said, adding that students'
lack of interest in local politics
frustrates her.
Hughes said she hopes students
will become more aware of local
politics.
"It's super sexy to vote in a presi
dential election," she said. "But what
happens when a ballot initiative
needs to be passed in Lane County?"
Contact the people/culture/faith
reporter
atmoriahbalingit@dailyemerald.com.
LETTER
continued from page 2
her religious views. This is an entire
ly logical conclusion if one believes,
as does Wagner, in an eternal God
who has hopefully acquired more
wisdom over His prolonged
existence than your average college
student has acquired over a couple
of decades. In the future, I suggest
that those wishing to debate an issue
research all viewpoints and write co
herent arguments that contribute
positively to the discussion. Whatev
er your informed opinion ends up
being, I urge you to learn to
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recognize and avoid ill-informed,
inflammatory rants and instead to
increase your understanding and
tolerance of other viewpoints
through the marketplace of ideas
that is political debate.
Nathan Baker
graduate student
music theory
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