New Poll Shows Most Americans Don't Trust September Report on Iraq

There is a very interesting new poll from CNN/Opinion Research Corporation. By a margin of 53% to 43%, Americans don't trust the upcoming "Petraeus" report (actually being written by White House aides) to assess the military situation in Iraq accurately. Also, 72% said the report would have no effect on their view of the war.

It's not that people refuse to accept the idea that the "surge" might result in some military progress there. Almost half (47%) already think that our military is making some progress. It's just that they don't think the effort is going to amount to anything in the end, and it's definitely not worth the cost. Only 33% support the war. As to whether the Iraq government is making any progress, only 26% think it is and 69% think it is not. So what is the value of demonstrating "some progress" by soldiers on the ground?