How come 43% of Americans believe there is a link between Iraq & 911? Even Bush has stated there is no link.?

Question

43% continue to believe that there were links between
Saddam Hussein's government and Al Qaeda prior to the 9/11
http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20060912/pl_rasmussen/iraq20060912_1

Bush denies claim on White House website
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030131-23.html

Bush states "No, we've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th"
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/attack/140133_bushiraq18.html

Bush states "Saddam Hussein was not responsible for the 9/11 attacks" in his 9/11/06 address to the country, link to White House website
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060911-3.html

Someone replied that liberals are stupid and they believe everything they read in the press. A key point in the first article I gave a link for shows that the direct opposite is true. It is conservatives who are far more misinformed as to this particular truth.

"By a 59% to 19% margin, Republicans say there were Iraqi-Al Qaeda links. Democrats disagree by a 46% to 34% margin."

Answer 1

Bush and Cheney deliberately conflate the 9-11 attacks with Saddam. Bush even did it on Tuesday night in the middle of the propagandized "Path to 9-11" They know from psychological studies, or perhaps from Machiavelli, that when a speaker mentions one thing, followed by another, that this will leave an association in people's memories.

Answer 2

Because many people associate Al Queda with 911 correctly, but the debate over the justification for war has become so polluted that many people can no longer distiguish the basic facts. Since many people are not overly politically minded they generally accept what they hear as fact. Once a myth is started in our culture it is very hard to dispel. Lastly, polling data can be skewed in any direction by how you ask the question, and as a general rule it is no longer to be trusted from either side of the political spectrum.

NoSunHere: Your statement better describes Dan Quayle than George Bush. Quayle spelled Potato "Potatoe" which made him the butt of many jokes for a long time following.

Answer 3

It depends on what you mean by a link. Did Saddam at any time meet islamic fundamentalists? almost certainly yes, but then the CIA trained the worst of them, Bin Laden. Would Saddam have approved of or condoned the actions? possibly. Did he have a hand in supporting them? Highly unlikely as Saddam was against islamic fundamentalism as it would threaten his rule and possibly lead to insurgency and his overthrow.

Why do many Americans believe there is a link? They believe what their president told them in the aftermath after 9/11. Instead of searching recent press releases, look in the archives for older press releases. The war against Saddam was launched with the inplicit assumption of a connection - although the intelligence services said otherwise. Saddam whilst not liking the US, was almost certainly quite aware of the fury that such an attack would provoke.

For many Americans to accept that there is no connection between 9/11 and Iraq would mean that one of their main premises for supporting Bush and the US military was undermined. It would mean accepting that they themselves were wrong. People don't like doing this. If the premise was wrong, then why have so many people (on all sides) died? Was this in vain. Your call.

Answer 4

I love how you chop up his comments - We always knew he had no part in the planning, but there is evidence that he funded Al Qaeda, allowed them sanctuary in Iraq and there are documents being used in his trial that show his knowledge that an attack was in the works.

I suppose you still kling to the rhetoric that no WMDs were found - I would consider enough saren gas to kill hundreds of thousands of people a WMD...

Answer 5

Same rate of Americans can´t find Iraq in a map.

Same rate of Americans that don't understand evolution theory.

USA have too many foolish preachers and too many candid believers.
USA need more sources of independent information and best educational system.

Iraq would was a ally against Iran before Iraq invasion. Dirty money for dirty people.

Answer 6

Some people just don't pay attention.
Some people realize there is a link, even if it isn't a direct link. That link is "evil". Just like there is a link between the Bloods and the Cryps. They hate each other, but they are both evil and both should be destroyed. That is the link.

Answer 7

43% of the people of the United States are ill-informed.

Answer 8

What is your point? There are people who believe Bush rigged the 2000 and 2004 elections. There are people who believe the US government staged 9/11.

There is ignorance and there is stupidity. Ignorance means you don't know and is curable. Stupidity means you refuse to learn and accept reality and substitute your own.

Answer 9

Sadaam didnt have anything to do with 911,I agree,but....terrorists exist in both situations,I consider the loyalists to Sadaam to be terroristic,as well as the animals who pulled off 911..Both must be dealt with...& deleted from the earth..

Answer 10

Because the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist!