(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A large majority of people in the United States agree with the recent withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Iraq, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 73 per cent of respondents favour the plan, while 26 per cent oppose it.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A large majority of people in the United States agree with the recent withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Iraq, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 73 per cent of respondents favour the plan, while 26 per cent oppose it.
In addition, 52 per cent of respondents think that violence will increase in Iraqi cities following the troop reduction. But even if the number of attacks on Iraqi citizens by insurgents were to increase, 63 per cent of respondents think this should not be a reason for American troops to return.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003 during the presidency of George W. Bush. At least 4,324 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 31,350 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.
In November 2008, Iraq’s National Assembly ratified the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States. The document established that coalition combat forces would withdraw from Iraqi cities by Jun. 30, 2009, and would be completely out of Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011. The agreement could be revised if the Iraqi prime minister believed Iraq was not stable enough.
On Feb. 27, U.S. president Barack Obama announced his intention to end the combat mission in Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010.
On Jun. 30, in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement, the U.S. withdrew most of its troops from Iraqi cities. About 130,000 soldiers will remain stationed in Iraq, mostly outside urban centres and mainly in advisory and consultative roles.
On Jul. 6, in an official statement, the U.S. government said that Obama believes that "there’s more work to be done. But we’ve made important progress in supporting a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq."
Polling Data
As you may know, the U.S. plans to withdraw most of its combat troops from Iraqi cities and towns and the Iraqi military and police forces will be responsible for maintaining order there. The U.S. will continue to have combat troops in the rest of the country. Do you favour or oppose this plan?
|
Favour
|
73%
|
|
Oppose
|
26%
|
|
Unsure
|
1%
|
Just your best guess. Do you think that the level of violence in Iraqi cities will increase, decrease, or remain the same when the U.S. withdraws most of its combat troops from Iraqi cities and towns?
|
Increase
|
52%
|
|
Decrease
|
15%
|
|
Remain the same
|
32%
|
|
Unsure
|
1%
|
If there is a significant increase in the number of attacks on Iraqi citizens by insurgents after the U.S. withdraws its troops from Iraqi cities, do you think the U.S. should or should not send combat troops back into those cities?
|
Should
|
35%
|
|
Should not
|
63%
|
|
Unsure
|
2%
|
Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,026 American adults, conducted from Jun. 26 to Jun. 28, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
