Issue Watch
Track global public opinion on current issues.
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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Bush Paints Rosy Picture of Iraq, Say Americans
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States remain worried about the coalition effort in Iraq, according to two recent public opinion polls. In a New York Times and CBS News survey, 50 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. should have stayed out of Iraq. In a study by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News, 55 per cent of respondents think the war was not worth fighting.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,238 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 16,500 troops have been injured.
On Jan. 23, U.S. president George W. Bush discussed the situation in Iraq, saying, "Our strategy is twofold: We're on the hunt for the terrorists, and we're training Iraqis. And we're making decent progress. There are more and more Iraqi units in the fight. There's more and more country being turned over to the Iraqis." In the New York Times/CBS poll, 58 per cent of respondents think Bush is making things in Iraq sound better than they really are, up three points in a year.
Bush also talked about his decision to launch the coalition effort, saying, "Saddam Hussein was given a choice. He chose war. And so we moved and he was removed from power. And there is absolutely no doubt in my mind, America is safer for it, and the world is better off without Saddam Hussein." In the TNS/Washington Post/ABC News survey, 53 per cent of respondents say the war has contributed to the long-term security of the United States.
Polling Data
a) Looking back, do you think the United States did the right thing in taking military action against Iraq, or should the U.S. have stayed out?
Jan. 2006 | Dec. 2005 | Oct. 2005 | |
Right thing | 47% | 48% | 42% |
Stayed out | 50% | 49% | 50% |
When George W. Bush talks about how things are going for the United States in Iraq, do you think he is making things in Iraq sound better than they really are, making things in Iraq sound worse than they really are, or is he describing the situation in Iraq accurately?
Jan. 2006 | Jan. 2005 | |
Better | 58% | 55% |
Worse | 5% | 6% |
Described accurately | 31% | 35% |
Not sure | 5% | 4% |
Source: CBS News / The New York Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,229 American adults, conducted from Jan. 20 to Jan. 25, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
b) 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?
Jan. 26 | Jan. 8 | Dec. 18 | |
Worth fighting | 44% | 43% | 46% |
Not worth fighting | 55% | 55% | 52% |
No opinion | 1% | 2% | 1% |
Do you think the war with Iraq has or has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States?
Jan. 8 | Dec. 18 | Nov. 2 | |
Yes | 53% | 54% | 46% |
No | 45% | 44% | 52% |
Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,002 American adults, conducted from Jan. 23 to Jan. 26, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.