America's uncertain patriotism

By Steve Schifferes BBC News Online, Washington

US Independence Day is always a time for patriotic celebrations. But this year there will be no victory parade for the troops in Iraq.

An occasion for flag-waving

Americans are gathering with friends and family over the long 4 July weekend beginning on Friday for picnics, fireworks, and parades.

On Washington's National Mall, up to a million people are expected to join in the celebrations, with marching bands, a concert by Dolly Parton, and a spectacular fireworks display above the Washington Monument.

But the news from Iraq has been sombre, with continuous attacks on US troops.

On Thursday, the US Government announced a $25m reward for finding Saddam Hussein, acknowledging officially for the first time that the former dictator was not killed in air raids during the war.

And polls show an increasing public scepticism about the pace of post-war reconstruction, and the likelihood of ever capturing Saddam alive.

We're going to be (in Iraq) a long time. We must reorganise our military to be there a long time

Senator Richard Lugar, chair
Foreign Relations Committee

Meanwhile, plans for a victory parade for the troops returning from Iraq in New York City - originally proposed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg - have been put on hold indefinitely as most of the soldiers who fought in the war are still on active duty in Baghdad.

Instead, President George W Bush will travel to Dayton, Ohio, where he will be celebrating an earlier American achievement - the 100th anniversary of flight at the home of the Wright Brothers, whose plane first flew at Kitty Hawk in December, 1903.

In his Independence Day message, the president will stress the difficulties ahead.

"America is a force for good in the world, and the compassionate spirit of America remains a living faith.

"Drawing on the courage of our Founding Fathers and the resolve of our citizens, we willingly embrace the challenges before us," he will say.

Proud to be an American

US citizens are proud to be Americans, and most opinion polls show that three-quarters or more say they are "very patriotic", as compared to one-half to one-quarter in most other countries around the world.

NATIONAL PRIDE

USA: 72%

India: 71%

UK: 49%

France: 40%

Italy: 39%

Percentage saying they are 'very proud' of their country
2000 World Values Survey

Americans are particularly proud of their military (80%), their history (62%), and their scientific and technical achievements (69%), and less proud of their achievements in the arts and literature, the way democracy works, or the fair and equal treatment of all groups in society.

And US patriotism took a leap upwards after the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001, with more people feeling patriotic and united, and displaying flags, signs and bumper stickers.

The war against Iraq did not lead to the same popular expression of patriotism.

There was a noticeable lack of bumper stickers and signs, and less than half of the population said they were more likely to display the flag as the war began in March.

What Americans feel proud of

US armed forces: 80%

Science: 69%

US history: 62%

Arts: 46%

Democracy: 49%

Economy: 40%

Fairness to all: 28%

those who were "very proud"
source: Washington Post/ABC Poll, September 2002

In the run-up to war, the country had been deeply divided over the Bush administration's approach to the United Nations and the nature of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.

During the war, Americans rallied around the troops, and the president - but now similar divisions are appearing on how he is managing the peace.

Uncertain war, uncertain peace

So far, unease is centred less on the issue of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and more on the attacks on US troops and the length of time they may have to stay in Iraq.

Americans are proud of their history - especially the Revolutionary War

In the most recent USA Today/Gallup poll, only a slim majority of 56% thought that the post-war situation in Iraq was going well, compared to 86% just after President Bush declared major combat fighting over in early May.

And only 56% said that the situation in Iraq was worth going to war over, as compared to 73% in the middle of April as combat began.

So far, the unease has not had rubbed off on President Bush's poll ratings.

Mr Bush's approval rating has slipped from 71% to 61% this month, but that still gives him two-to-one majority among the electorate, with even more people finding him trustworthy and a strong leader.

That has led to Americans giving Mr Bush the benefit of the doubt over the issue of the weapons of mass destruction.

Although only half are now confident that US troops will find WMDs in Iraq, only one-third (37%) believe that the Bush administration deliberately misled the public about their existence, with 61% saying it did not.

Politicians speak out

The uncertain public mood has emboldened politicians of both political parties to voice some of their worries about the situation in Iraq.

Republican Senator Richard Lugar, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, returned from Iraq last week critical of President Bush's reluctance to come clean.

"This idea that we will be in just as long as we need to and not a day more - we've got to get over that rhetoric," he said. "It is rubbish. We're going to be there a long time. We must reorganise our military to be there a long time."

Democratic Senator Carl Levin called on the Bush administration "to end the feud with France, Germany, and the UN" and to "reach out to other nations much more than we have done" in order to get help in rebuilding Iraq.

Many Democratic candidates for president are still holding fire on Iraq, compromised by their vote in support of the president in November and worried about moderate voters.

But one of the few of them to speak out against the war, former Vermont governor Howard Dean, led the pack in fundraising over the last three months.

If Iraq is not yet a political liability for Mr Bush, it may turn out to provide less of a political benefit than he might have hoped for.

The Gallup/USA Today poll interviewed 1003 adults by telephone between 27-29 June 2003, with a sampling error of 3%.