Public opinion at "tipping point" on Iraq.

• Position: Foreign Policy - Brief Article

The U.S. is split in two along religious and party lines, according to the Public Agenda Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index. Across this chasm, however, significant majorities are starting to come together based on discontent with the war in Iraq, U.S. relations with the Muslim world, and illegal immigration.

"People who regularly attend religious services are confident about the success of U.S. policies in Iraq and express low levels of worry about casualties or costs; they are optimistic about Washington's commitment to helping other nations democratize; they are comfortable with the United States' diplomatic relations; they are satisfied that [America] is fully living up to its moral ideals and is conducting its foreign policy in a humanitarian spirit; and they are largely unconcerned about threats to their civil liberties," notes Daniel Yankelovich, chairman of Public Agenda, New York. "The convergence of opinions is so clear, in fact, that, on some issues, frequent attendance at religious services has become a proxy for support of...