Two-Thirds of Americans Question Iraq War

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe the coalition effort was a mistake, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 66 per cent of respondents think the war with Iraq was not worth fighting.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,315 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 24,700 troops have been wounded in action.

In December 2005, Iraqi voters renewed their National Assembly. In May 2006, Shiite United Iraqi Alliance member Nouri al-Maliki officially took over as prime minister.

On Mar. 23, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 218-212 to authorize an emergency supplemental war spending bill, which sets a deadline of Aug. 31, 2008 for the end of the coalition effort in Iraq. On Mar. 29, the U.S. Senate voted 51-47 to pass a separate bill, which calls for all combat troops to be removed from Iraq by Mar. 31, 2008. 56 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should withdraw its forces from Iraq, and 51 per cent want the government to seat a deadline for this purpose.

On Apr. 18, U.S. president George W. Bush met with Congressional leaders to discuss the war in Iraq. Senate majority leader Harry Reid described his views, saying, “We believe (Bush) must search his soul, his conscience and find out what is the right thing for the American people. I believe signing this bill will do that.”

Deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino acknowledged that there is little consensus on the issue, declaring, “It appears that they are determined to send a bill to the president that he won’t accept. They fundamentally disagree.” Bush has vowed to veto any bill that sets a deadline for the coalition effort.

Polling Data

All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not?

Do you think the United States should keep its military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there, even if that means continued U.S. military casualties; or, do you think the United States should withdraw its military forces from Iraq in order to avoid further U.S. military casualties, even if that means civil order is not restored there?

Some people say the Bush administration should set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. military forces from Iraq in order to avoid further casualties. Others say knowing when the U.S. would pull out would only encourage the anti-government insurgents. Do you yourself think the United States should or should not set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq?

Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,141 American adults, conducted from Apr. 12 to Apr. 15, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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