Bush underestimated troop needs, says survey

Members of the US military and their families say the Bush administration underestimated the number of troops needed in Iraq and put too much pressure on inadequately trained National Guard and reserve forces, according to a poll released today.

The National Annenberg Election Survey found that 62% in the military sample said the administration didn’t send an adequate number of troops to Iraq.

And 59% said too much of a burden has been put on the National Guard and the reserves when regular forces should have been expanded instead.

Family members were more critical of the administration’s Iraq policy than those on active duty.

This critical view comes from a military group that has a more favourable view of President George W Bush, Iraq, the economy and the nation’s direction than Americans in general.

A slight majority of the military and families, 51%, said showing photos of flag-draped coffins being returned to the United States would increase respect for the troops.

The Pentagon has refused to release government photos of the coffins, saying it has begun enforcing a policy installed in 1991 intended to respect the privacy of the families of the dead soldiers.

On other military matters:

:: 42% said gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military, and 50% said no.

:: 25% said the military draft should be reinstated, 75% said no. That is about the same level of opposition to the draft in the general population.

:: 60% of the regular military in the sample said they were properly trained and equipped.

:: 40% of the Guard members and reservists questioned said they were properly trained and equipped.

:: The military sample overwhelmingly approved of the work of women in the armed forces. 75% said they performed as well as the men they work with.

:: 80% said soldiers responsible for the Abu Ghraib prison abuse and their immediate commanders should be punished. Half said higher-level commanders should be punished and 30% said civilians in the Pentagon should be punished.

The poll of 655 in the active military (both regulars and reserves) and their families was taken between September 22 and October 5.