The questions asked by a number of polling companies such as MORI, Gallup andICM have been seriously inadequate. They have failed to give respondents a rangeof possible options in relation to the war. When polling companies do ask aboutalternatives, support for war falls away quite markedly. In the UK prior to thebombing all except one poll, which asked the question, showed a majority againstbombing if it caused civilian casualties. After the bombing started UK pollingcompanies stopped asking about concern for civilians. From the start of thebombing to the fall of Kabul on 13 November there were only four polls onBritish opinion (by ICM (2001a, 2001b) and MORI (2001a, 2001b)) compared with 7between the 11 September and the start of the bombing on October 7. None hasasked adequate questions about alternatives to bombing. ICM did ask onealternative questions about whether bombing should stop to allow aid intoAfghanistan and 54% said it should (Guardian October 30). Where questionsabout aid or alternatives to bombing are asked the results have been consistent:Clear and sometimes massive majorities against the bombing. In an ignored poll,the Scottish Sunday Mail found that fully 69% of Scots favouredsanctions, diplomacy or bringing Bin Laden to trial. Only 17% favoured hisexecution and a minuscule 5% supported bombing (21 October). The Heraldin Glasgow also found only 6% favoured the then current policy of bombing alone(3 November). It is well known that Scottish opinion tends to be to the left ofUK opinion, but not by more than a few points on average. Although the PressAssociation picked up on the Herald poll it was not reported in theBritish national press. Between the start of the bombing and the fall of Kabul,(with the exception of the single question in the Guardian poll showing 54% infavour of a pause in bombing) not a single polling company asked the Britishpublic any questions about alternatives to war.