And the public is expressing a greater willingness to tolerate U.S. casualties as the cost of bringing peace to Kosovo. Tuesday night, Americans by 59-37 percent said helping to bring peace to Kosovo was not worth the loss of U.S. soldiers' lives. By Friday, that had moved to nearly an even split, 49-45 percent. The NATO assault on Serbia began Wednesday. Indeed, majorities support the air strikes whether the feel they understand the Serbian conflict or not.
Persuasion is more salient than knowledge.
But among those who feel he hasn't said enough, support drops sharply, to 46 percent. The president's own grades in the affair are lukewarm at best. Fifty-one percent approve of his handling of the situation, while 32 percent disapprove. Among those who do not see U.S. vital interests in Kosovo, support for the air strikes declines to 52 percent. The results have a 4.5-point error margin.