Headline I remember from Spring 1991: "90% of the American Public Supports Our Troops in the Middle East". First thing we noticed at the time was that this was
equivalent to propaganda from Goebbels.
Polling data from the Spring of 1991, immediately following the conclusion of
the Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), confirms that American public
support for the troops and the overall U.S. actions in the Middle East was
exceptionally high, often cited in the 80% to 90% range for specific metrics
regarding pride in the military.
Roper Center for Public Opinion Research
Key findings regarding public opinion at that time include:
High Approval Rating:
In March 1991, shortly after the war ended, President George H.W.
Bush achieved an 89% approval rating for his handling of the
situation in the Middle East.
Support for Military Actions: Throughout the conflict (January-March
1991), approval for the U.S. decision to take military action against
Iraq hovered around 77% to 80%.
Pride in the Military: Surveys in early 1991, including a New York
Times/CBS News Poll, found that 81% of Americans were proud of the
U.S. role in the Persian Gulf.
"Rally Effect": The start of the ground war on February 24, 1991,
prompted a "rally effect," with 84% of Americans supporting the
decision at that time.