(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Supporters of either of the two dominant political parties in the United States hold very different views about the coalition effort, according to a poll by American Research Group. 75 per cent of Republicans believe the U.S. can win the war in Iraq, while only 17 per cent of Democrats concur.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Supporters of either of the two dominant political parties in the United States hold very different views about the coalition effort, according to a poll by American Research Group. 75 per cent of Republicans believe the U.S. can win the war in Iraq, while only 17 per cent of Democrats concur.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,311 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 24,600 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.
U.S. president George W. Bush has vowed to veto any bill that sets a deadline for the coalition effort. In more than six years in office, Bush has only vetoed a single bill: The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. 70 per cent of Democrats favour setting a deadline for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq, but just 17 per cent of Republicans agree with this idea.
On Apr. 16, Bush discussed the situation, saying, “I hope the Democratic leadership will drop their unreasonable demands for a precipitous withdrawal. We’ve only committed about a little over half of our troops into a decision I made to help secure the Iraqi capital—and, yet, there are some saying we ought to leave before we get there.” 61 per cent of Republicans think the terrorists fighting in Iraq would travel to the United States to fight, while only 23 per cent of Democrats concur.
Polling Data
Do you believe that the United States can win the war in Iraq, or not?
Rep. | Dem. | |
Can win | 75% | 17% |
Cannot win | 20% | 70% |
Undecided | 5% | 13% |
Do you favour or oppose setting a deadline for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq
Rep. | Dem. | |
Favour | 17% | 70% |
Oppose | 77% | 17% |
Undecided | 6% | 13% |
If the United States withdrew all troops from Iraq, do you believe that the terrorists fighting in Iraq would travel to the United States to fight here, or not?
Rep. | Dem. | |
Yes | 61% | 23% |
No | 34% | 70% |
Undecided | 5% | 7% |
Source: American Research Group
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 600 likely Republican primary voters in the United States, and 600 likely Democratic primary voters in the United States, conducted from Apr. 9 to Apr. 12, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
