THE TIMES POLL : Two-Thirds in U.S. Back Use of Air Power in Bosnia

Americans support the use of U.S. air power to keep humanitarian aid flowing into Bosnia-Herzegovina but are divided over whether this country should commit ground troops in the Balkan conflict, a new Los Angeles Times Poll has found.

The national survey of 1,460 adults, conducted over three days ending Friday, also shows that most of those polled now think President Bush has been too lenient in his dealings with Iraq. And two-thirds would back the renewed use of force if Saddam Hussein refuses to agree to U.N.-mandated weapons inspections.

By a 54% to 33% margin, Americans agree with the statement that “the United States has an obligation to use military force in Bosnia if there is no other way to get humanitarian aid to civilians and prevent the warring parties from practicing atrocities.” Two-thirds would back the use of U.S. air power to keep such help flowing to the region. Even a sizable slice of those who feel the United States has no obligation to help would still favor the use of air power.

The public is noticeably less inclined to favor the introduction of U.S. ground forces in the fighting, however; 43% favor that, but an almost equal number--44%--are against.

Bush has so far managed to keep a relatively positive profile with the public when it comes to his handling of the Bosnian situation. Only 27% of those polled feel that he is not being tough enough, while half think he is handling it “about right” and 20% are unsure.

When it comes to Iraq, however, much of the public has turned sour on Bush. Fifty-five percent say he has not been tough enough in dealing with that country, while just 36% feel that he has handled Iraqi relations “about right.” And 50% now say the Persian Gulf War was not a success for the United States--more than the 42% who maintain that it was an American triumph.

Such feelings may be helping to mute Bush’s expected political advantage over the Democratic presidential nominee, Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas, in the foreign policy arena. Although 61% of registered voters still think Bush can handle foreign affairs better than Clinton, just half--47%--think Bush has made the world a safer place in his time in office. Only 21% say Bush’s handling of relations with Iraq will make them more likely to back him for reelection in November. An almost equal amount--22%--say Bush’s policy toward Iraq makes them disinclined to vote for him.

Results from The Times’ survey have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.