Assessing the Costs of Iraq

What's your assessment of the situation in Iraq, now that President George W. Bush plans to ask Congress for $87 billion largely to fund continuing U.S. operations there, even though he declared that official hostilites ended on May 1? That's the focus of this BusinessWeek Online Reader Survey, which as always is unscientific, since anyone who wishes to can participate.

What's an acceptable amount for the U.S. to spend on the campaign in Iraq, from this point forward?

Nothing

No more than $10 billion

No more than $50 billion

No more than $100 billion

No more than $200 billion

More than $200 billion

Don't know

Now that the war is over, how much longer should the U.S. maintain an occupational force in Iraq?

Less than six months

Up to one year

Up to two years

Up to three years

Up to four years

More than four years

Don't know

How many more U.S. soldiers can be killed in Iraq before you'll feel that casualties are too high?

None

Dozens

Hundreds

Thousands

Not sure

At this point, how confident are you that the U.S. has a good plan for reconstructing Iraq?

Very confident

Somewhat confident

Neither more nor less confident

Somewhat unconfident

Not confident at all

Don't know

At this point, how likely do you think it is that U.S. forces will eventually uncover Iraqi weapons of mass destruction?

Very likely

Somewhat likely

As likely as not

Somewhat unlikely

Very unlikely

Don't know

At this point, how likely do you think it is that the Iraqi people regard the U.S. as their liberator?

Very likely

Somewhat likely

As likely as not

Somewhat unlikely

Very unlikely

Don't know

At this point, how likely do you think it is that by toppling Saddam Hussein's regime the U.S. has made itself safer from terrorist attacks at home?

Very likely

Somewhat likely

As likely as not

Somewhat unlikely

Very unlikely

Don't know

According to some theories, the U.S. victory in Iraq will pave the way for the spread or imposition of democracy throughout the Middle and Far East. At the moment, how likely would you say that is:

Very likely

Somewhat likely

As likely as not

Somewhat unlikely

Very unlikely

Don't know

How likely do you think it is that the U.S. victory in Iraq will turn out to have been worth its cost in terms of money spent and lives lost on both sides?

Very likely

Somewhat likely

As likely as not

Somewhat unlikely

Very unlikely

Don't know

In retrospect, do you agree or disagree that the American public was too trusting of the Bush Administration's justification for the invasion of Iraq?

Agree strongly

Agree somewhat

Neither agree or disagree

Disagree somewhat

Disagree strongly

Don't know

How likely is it that the Bush Administration's ability to either stabilize the situation in Iraq or not will heavily influence your vote in the 2004 Presidential election?

Very likely

Somewhat likely

Neither more nor less likely

Somewhat unlikely

Not likely at all

Don't know

Who did you vote for in the last Presidential election?

Bush

Gore

Other/didn't or couldn't vote

Where do you live?

Northeast

Midwest

South

Southwest

West

Outside the U.S.

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