WASHINGTON: For the first time since the war in Iraq began, more than half of the American public believes the fight there has not made the United States safer, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey found that Americans continue to rank Iraq second only to the economy in importance — and that many are losing patience with the enterprise. Nearly three-quarters of Americans say the number of casualties in Iraq is unacceptable, while two-thirds say the US military there is bogged down and nearly six in 10 say the war was not worth fighting. More than four in 10 believe the US presence in Iraq is becoming analogous to the experience in Vietnam.

But what should be more alarming for President Bush is the finding that 52 per cent respondents said war in Iraq has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States, while 47 per cent said it has. It was the first time a majority of Americans disagreed with the central notion Mr Bush has offered to build support for war: that the fight there will make Americans safer from terrorists at home.

In late 2003, 62 per cent thought the Iraq war aided US security, and three months ago 52 perc ent thought so. Overall, more than half — 52 per cent — disapprove of how Mr Bush is handling his job, the highest of his presidency.

A somewhat larger majority — 56 per cent — disapproved of Republicans in Congress, and an identical proportion disapproved of Democrats. The surge in violence in Iraq since the new Iraqi government took control — 80 US troops and more than 700 Iraqis died in May alone amid a rash of bombings — has been accompanied by rising gloom about the overall fight against terrorists.

By 50 per cent to 49 per cent, Americans approved of the way Bush is handling the campaign against terrorism, down from 56 per cent approval in April, equalling the lowest rating he has earned on the issue that has consistently been his core strength with the public. Experts on war and public opinion told the paper the figures indicate that pessimism about the war in Iraq has reached a dangerous level.

“It appears that Americans are now realizing that the war in Iraq is not being won and may well prove unwinnable,” said retired Army Col. Andrew J. Bacevich, a professor at Boston University.

“That conclusion bleeds over into a conviction that it may not have been necessary in the first place.”