Radio Workshop

Give Peace a Chance (Transcript)

by Catherine Fenollosa

Fenollosa/War

A statewide poll released today says that New Yorkers are less in favor of going to war in Iraq than the Americans nationwide. Catherine Fenollosa went to Union Square to talk to New Yorkers about the threat of war.

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According to the poll by the Siena Research Institute, 49-percent of New Yorkers favor going to war in Iraq. That's compared to 63-percent of Americans nationwide. 64-year old Bruce walked through Union Square this morning with a newspaper tucked under his arm. The opera singer said he has mixed feelings about a possible war in Iraq eventhough he thinks Saddam Hussein cannot be trusted:

Tape: THE GUY'S A SON OF A BITCH BUT AT WHAT COST TO THE LIVES OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE, AT WHAT COST TO AMERICAN LIVES. I GUESS PEOPLE TO BE MORE PATIENT. PEOPLE HAVE TO BE MORE TOLERANT. :12

Patience and tolerance are qualities many New Yorkers say they wish the Bush administration would show more of. While the Siena poll found that 54-percent of Americans think the US has exhausted all diplomatic options in Iraq, only 43-percent of New Yorkers agree.

A 60-year old resident going for a morning walk in Union Square says Bush should give weapons inspectors more time to do their work, leaving the use of force as a last resort.

Tape: I think the war is immoral because it is a unilateral, preventive war without an immediate threat to the United States. Saddam is locked in a box now. But we should not rush to anything. :15

Many New Yorkers could not answer the question of why the US is threatening war in Iraq. Some said it is over oil resources, others felt Bush is seeking revenge for his own father's attempt to contain Iraq. But 32-year old Aleigha isn't sure the United States has any right to impose its say abroad. She says there is a double standard in trying to disarm Iraq:

Tape: THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE THE WEAPONS BUT THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, SO DOES THE US, SO SHOULD SOMEBODY COME AND BOMB US BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE SAME WEAPONS? :07

Even harder to convince New Yorkers is a concrete tie between removing Saddam Hussein from power and getting rid of terrorist threats against the United States. 66-percent of New Yorkers believe Iraq has connections to Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda terrorist network. That's compared to 86-percent of Americans nationwide.

24-year old Danny says the Bush administration has exagerated the connection in order to drum up support for a possible war:

Tape: THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING IS THAT WAR EQUALS TERRORISM AND IT DOESN'T. I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE OSAMA THE SAME PERSON AS SADDAM, AND THEY'RE NOT. :08

Danny, like many New Yorkers, say she is frustrated. Last week, thousands took to the streets to protest a war, including 48-year old Roger:

Tape: WHAT SAY DO I HAVE? I MARCH IN A PROTEST, I DON'T VOTE FOR THE MAN ANYWAY, PAY TAXES. WE'RE GOING TO WAR I THINK AND A LOT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS ARE GOING DIE. I'M VERY DISILLUSIONED, I'M VERY ASHAMED TO BE AN AMERICAN THIS WEEK. :12

The poll by the Siena Research Institute was conducted between February 12th and 14th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4-percent.

For Columbia Radio News, I'm Catherine Fenollosa.

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