US public disapproves of Iran assault

The majority of the United States public disapproves of the government's decision to attack Iran, with many among President Donald Trump's support base saying he broke key campaign promises.

"He ran on no more wars, end these stupid, senseless wars, and then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it," Joe Rogan, a Trump supporter in 2024 and a podcaster with more than 16 million followers, said on Tuesday.

Trump campaigned largely on an "America First" policy and criticized US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as "forever wars".

Rogan expressed concern that Iran might launch terrorist attacks on his country in retaliation.

In an interview with ABC News on Feb 28, Tucker Carlson, a conservative activist who visits the White House regularly, said the attack on Iran was "absolutely disgusting and evil". He had lobbied Trump against an attack on Iran.

Polls have indicated that US public support for a prolonged war with Iran is low.

A CNN poll conducted on Feb 28 and March 1 showed 59 percent of respondents disapprove of military action against Iran, with 41 percent support. In addition, 54 percent believe military action against Iran will make the country more of a threat to the US. Only 28 percent believe the opposite.

More people — 60 percent — are against the US sending ground troops into Iran. The support for a military campaign against Iran dropped to less than 10 percent if such an operation will result in a broader conflict in the Middle East, higher oil and gas prices, or US troops getting killed.

Against military action

An NPR/PBS survey of about 1,600 people in the week following the initial strikes showed that 56 percent of those polled were against the military action and only 36 percent approved of the administration's handling of the conflict.

Some people worry that by initiating this attack on Iran, Trump has put the US in an impossible situation no matter what he subsequently chooses to do. They expressed concern that the US might be sliding into another "endless war" if a quick end is unachievable.

"If the US withdraws soon, we would look weak because Iran would be able to recoup with more vengeance against the US," said a Houstonian named Michael. "The public, including many of Trump's base, are against boots on the ground in Iran because not much good came out of our expensive occupations in Iraq or Afghanistan."

Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a briefing that the first week of attacks on Iran cost $11.3 billion, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

Citing people familiar with the briefing, the Times said the estimate did not include costs related to personnel or the military buildup before the strikes.

"I've heard the $1 billion a day number," Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told USA Today, adding he could not fully confirm its veracity.

"I've asked this question before, and it's been avoided by the top Pentagon officials. They have been totally unforthcoming about the cost. So I'm not holding my breath," he added.

That cost is higher than previous estimates, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies having calculated that the first 100 hours of the operation cost $3.7 billion.

mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com