(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States would reduce the number of U.S. combat troops currently deployed in Iraq to increase the number of soldiers in Afghanistan, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 55 per cent of respondents favour this plan, while 42 per cent oppose it.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States would reduce the number of U.S. combat troops currently deployed in Iraq to increase the number of soldiers in Afghanistan, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 55 per cent of respondents favour this plan, while 42 per cent oppose it.
In addition, 63 per cent of respondents oppose the U.S. war in Iraq.
Afghanistan has been the main battleground in the war on terrorism. The conflict began in October 2001, after the Taliban regime refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people.
At least 1,018 soldiers—including 624 Americans—have died in the conflict, either in support of the United States-led Operation Enduring Freedom or as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 4,209 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and 30,800 troops have been wounded in action.
Last month, Iraq’s National Assembly ratified the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States. The document establishes that coalition combat forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by Jun. 30, 2009, and will be completely out of Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011. The agreement can be revised if the Iraqi prime minister believes Iraq is not stable enough.
On Dec. 15, U.S. president George W. Bush visited Afghanistan and discussed the future of the country, saying, "This doesn’t end tomorrow. Ideological struggles take time. As a civil society whose firm political institutions begin to develop, extremism begins to wither—it gets marginalized and then it withers away. So it’s going to take time."
Polling Data
Would you favour or oppose a plan to reduce the number of U.S. combat troops from Iraq and increase the number of U.S. combat troops in Afghanistan?
|
Dec. 2008 |
Jul. 2008 |
|
|
Favour |
55% |
56% |
|
Oppose |
42% |
42% |
|
Unsure |
3% |
2% |
Do you favour or oppose the U.S. war in Iraq?
|
Dec. 2008 |
Oct. 2008 |
|
|
Favour |
36% |
33% |
|
Oppose |
63% |
64% |
|
Unsure |
1% |
3% |
Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,096 American adults, conducted on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
