This week, the presidential campaign trail has been heating up, and so has the controversy over President Bush's real motivation for waging war against Iraq.

The Price of Loyalty by Ron Suskind was published Tuesday. In the book, the former secretary of the treasury and primary source, Paul H. O'Neill, took several stabs at Bush and his administration. His accounts say that Bush planned the Iraq war from the beginning of his term.

Jason Poorman (senior-integrative arts) said he wouldn't be surprised if O'Neill's accusation was true.

"At this point, though, it's probably [O'Neill's] word against Bush's word, but there are a lot of people who wouldn't trust Bush's word, which is sad," Poorman said.

Poorman, a Democrat, said he didn't support the war because he didn't think Bush gave proper justification for it.

"And the reasons he gave, he hasn't been able to back up since," he said.

Poorman's argument aligns with the concerns O'Neill mentioned in Suskind's book, that Bush's quick decision didn't allow for many debates on the subject.

Allison Yearick (sophomore-psychology) said she has heard about the accusation in passing, but she finds it hard to believe.

"I think [O'Neill's statement] was made up, absolutely. You can't really have a war planned from the start of the presidency," she said.

Although Yearick isn't a registered voter, she said she associates mostly with the Democratic Party. She didn't support the war but understood that something needed to be done.

Marty Waddington (senior-journalism) said he did support the war in Iraq.

"I think it had to be done. A lot of people have given Bush a hard time about the fact that he used Saddam as a scapegoat for bin Laden, but it doesn't matter. He went in there and made the city a better place, and I don't think anyone can argue that," he said.

Waddington, a Republican, said the release of the book at a crucial point in the election process is a political move.

"It will be hard for Democrats to even put someone in the White House in November, and I think they need all the help they can get," Waddington said.

Poorman said the public should know if the accusation is true.

"I think it's obvious that this information came out in an election year, and it's important because it throws some more fuel onto the fire," he said.

Blythe Hart (sophomore-theatre arts) said she has been trying to avoid media coverage of the controversy.

"I already have a pretty low opinion of Bush because of his taxes and use of the death penalty when he was governor. I try not to listen to anything that will sour my opinion more," Hart said.

Hart isn't registered with a party but said she wants to register as a Democrat for the 2004 election. However, she was disappointed to hear O'Neill's allegations.

"Validity or not, he was poking at a sore spot. It's like kicking a man when he's down; you just don't do it," she said.

Hart said this is a time when a lot of the politicians' true personalities are starting to come out.

"I don't want a president who will resort to name-calling to represent me and to represent America to the rest of the world," she said.