Essential Estrogen

Americans Against Escalation in Iraq have issued a press release marking both 2007 as the deadliest year yet for American troops in Iraq and that, for the first time, 50 percent of Americans "strongly disapprove" of President George W. Bush. With these latest figures, Bush now beats former President Nixon's record.

"For years a majority of Iowans have opposed President Bush's reckless Iraq war policy which put more of our men and women in harm's way, and now, in the fifth year of war we have more troop deaths than ever," said Sue Dinsdale, Iowa field director for Americans Against Escalation in Iraq. "Iowans, like most Americans, have demanded a responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq, but President Bush and Senator [Chuck] Grassley have blocked efforts to end the war every step of the way. The ramifications of the so-called 'surge' policy are clear with this grim milestone. Iowans will not look fondly on Senator Grassley, who has backed Bush's policy over his own constituents' demands for an end to the war.

"As Senator Grassley makes plans to honor our veterans and their sacrifices on Veterans Day a few days from now, Iowans are urging him and President Bush to honor our troops by bringing them home safely from Iraq."

A USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 50 percent of Americans "strongly disapprove" of the President, for the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll. Nixon had held the previous record of 48 percent strong disapproval shortly before his impeachment hearings in 1974.

"Anger over President Bush's unpopular and reckless war policy is palpable in Iowa and across the country as reflected in his record disapproval ratings. When after five years of war your war policy is killing record numbers of your bravest men and women, it is long past time to change the course," added Dinsdale. "Leaders like Senator Grassley who follow President Bush and continue to back his endless war are setting themselves up for political extinction."