Americans skeptical of Bush Iraq troop build-up

NEW YORK, Jan 11 (Reuters) Many Americans today expressed skepticism of US President George W Bush's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq to engage in a conflict that has already killed more than 3,000 US forces.

''I thought it was nonsense. The Iraqis don't want us there.'' Edgar Koerner of New York City said on his way to work, reacting to the president's speech last night. He said if a force were to be sent 20,000 ''isn't nearly enough'' to secure the country.

Brianne Mooney, a 38-year-old insurance adjuster in Chicago, said, ''It's not bringing anyone home, and here he wants to send more people out there. Iraq has to deal with their problems, and sending more troops out there is not the answer for it. They need to step up and do their job.'' ''It seems ironic that Bush is shifting the responsibility to the Iraqi government for cleaning up the ungodly mess which he started and for which he is responsible,'' said Robert Colson, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and who now lives in Nashville, Tenn.

Most of the views on the street reflected an ABC News poll taken immediately after Bush's speech which showed that 61 percent of Americans opposed Bush's plan while just 36 per cent backed it.

Bush's approach, which has come under more intrusive scrutiny since Democrats took control of Congress from Bush's Republicans in the November election, drew some support.

Tom Sims, a garbage truck driver in Boise, Idaho, said: ''At least they're trying to do something...They're already over there, so they need to do their best to get it done.'' He added: ''If we start something we should finish it, or at least attempt to.'' Many people on New York's tony Upper East Side, a more conservative area of solidly Democratic New York City, opposed a build-up. ''I don't approve because I think we should be pulling troops out,'' said construction worker Richard Dixon.

Esther Retamoso, a retail shop worker, said she started to listen to Bush's speech and then turned it off.

''I didn't want to hear what he was saying, that Iraq is a new democracy and the US has to help the Iraqis by sending in 20,000 more troops. These countries, looking at their history, they don't believe in democracy,'' she said.

Not all New Yorkers felt that way. Attorney Eugene Oh called the surge a necessary step. ''We just need to show that we are going to stay steadfast,'' Oh said.

Nawzad Hawrami, Director of the Sala Hadeen Center in Nashville's ''Little Kurdistan'' community of Kurdish refugees was cautious. ''I hope more troops will help stabilize Iraq but we need to realize that this is only short term -- like using aspirin for a toothache.

''The US needs to spur anti-corruption measures and encourage Iraqis to join their army. I hope this will help,'' Hawrami said.

Mike Clancey, 48, a retired computer programmer in Louisville, Kentucky and a Democrat said neither Congress nor the electorate was likely to stop Bush from sending the troops in -- even though most think he is on the wrong track.

''The American people will give you all the rope you need to hang yourself,'' he said.

''But come this summer, if his plan is not working, he's going to have make real changes.'' REUTERS BDP BD2329