Via Jules Crittenden, we have this poll from MSNBC. The good news is that 48% of Americans now say the war in Iraq is going well.

Some 48 per cent of Americans now believe that the US ­military effort in Iraq is going well, compared with 30 per cent in February, according to the latest poll by the Pew Research Center.

That’s an 18% increase — double digits — since the surge began. Considering the factors involved (i.e. the media not wanting to report good news) that’s pretty good.

Then there’s this:

But the poll found that the “rosier view of the military situation in Iraq has not translated into increased support for maintaining US forces in Iraq”. Some 54 per cent of Americans want the Pentagon to bring troops home, compared with 53 per cent in February.

You can count both Jules and me in that 54%. We want the troops brought home, too. But that all depends on the “when” factor, doesn’t it? Now? Next year? When the mission is accomplished?

Jules also notes that while that 1% increase in want for the troops to come home is considered important by MSNBC, it simultaneously downplays this 1% increase:

But the Pew poll shows the improvement in Iraq has not increased the domestic appetite for the war. The number of respondents who believe the US will succeed in Iraq has risen from 47 per cent in February to 48 per cent now.

As for Bush:

The improved perception of the situation in Iraq has also not translated into increased support for President George W. Bush, whose approval rating has dropped 3 percentage points from February to 30 per cent.

Where does Congress stand nationally? Pew doesn’t note in its report. As of the November 7 publication, Congress’ approval for October stood at 31%. Keep in mind that was a poll about the public’s approval for almost 2 months ago. I’m thinking they’re not doing much better. Real Clear Politics’ national average shows Bush at 33.1%, with Congress at…22.5%.

Back to the MSNBC poll, though.

Jules notes:

What’s interesting is that the dramatic upswing appears to have happened mainly between June and September. That was at a time when America’s leading news organizations were studiously ignoring what was happening in Iraq, and well before the change in tone of news coverage, when in fact concerted efforts were underway to disparage the surge and Petraeus.

The latest numbers should be interesting.

Via Instapundit.