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reprint or license thisS.C. split on adding troops
State’s support of war has declined to nearly 40 percent
From Staff Reports
Columbia citizens react to Bush's speechSouth Carolinians were divided Thursday in their reaction to President Bush’s call to send 21,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq.
Some were supportive.
“We need to go in and get rid of the insurgency,” said Dale Hampton, whose daughter was killed in Iraq in 2004.
Others were furious.
“It’s time to bring the troops home,” said Elaine Johnson, whose son died in 2003. “My son was number 367 that got killed. Now it’s 3,000 and something.”
While generally supportive, S.C. political leaders were divided, too.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, said the added troops could make a difference. U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis, R-Greenville, said a congressional resolution “saying that (new) troops is just not a good idea” could gain his support.
More than 70 percent of South Carolinians initially supported the Iraq war. But recent polls say support has fallen below 40 percent. (A survey Thursday on http://www.thestate.com/ found opponents of Bush’s plan outweighing supporters 61 percent to 39 percent.)
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