According to a new Gallup poll, issued today, most of the American public wants Congress to wait for General Petraeus’ report in September, before considering changing direction in strategy. 56% of the American public want Congress to wait for his report, while only 39% want a change in direction now.

The poll also finds Petraeus is highly respected by the American public, with 47% of the American public having a favorable opinion. 21% have an unfavorable opinion. 32% have never heard of him. That’s right, 32% of the public have never heard of Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq. So, how much of the population that has a negative view on Iraq, actually stays on top of developments in Iraq? Or do they just check CBS news every so often?

Which brings us to approval of the parties in Congress, in their ability to handle the war. Democrats don’t have approval in the bag, as they’d like to think. According to Gallup’s newest poll:

Thirty percent of Americans approve of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling the situation with Iraq and 22% approve of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling Iraq. These results are typical of what Gallup and other polling firms have found this year.

Democrats only have the confidence of 8% more the American public, than Republicans.

Finally, a new article by Ullrich Fichtner of Spiegel states, “The US military is more successful in Iraq than the world wants to believe…Truth be told, the Americans have restored order to many parts of the county.

The surge is working. Approval of the war is rising. Confidence in Petraeus is high. Former enemies are joining our side, fighting against al-Qaeda. We’re winning.

Will Congressional Democrats let this continue? Or will they demand we surrender, leaving behind genocide and a terrorist safe haven?