May 02, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Adults in the United States remain upset over their country's involvement in the coalition effort, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 52 per cent of respondents think removing Saddam Hussein from power was not worth the number of U.S. military casualties and the financial cost of the war.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Adults in the United States remain upset over their country's involvement in the coalition effort, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 52 per cent of respondents think removing Saddam Hussein from power was not worth the number of U.S. military casualties and the financial cost of the war.

The coalition effort against Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,397 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 17,700 troops have been wounded in action.

In December 2005, Iraqi voters renewed their National Assembly. On Apr. 21, the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance nominated Nouri al-Maliki for the position of prime minister.

In his Apr. 29 radio address, U.S. president George W. Bush discussed the situation in Iraq, declaring, "There will be more tough fighting ahead in Iraq and more days of sacrifice and struggle. Yet the enemies of freedom have suffered a real blow in recent days, and we have taken great strides on the march to victory. Iraq's leaders now have laid the foundations for a democratic government of, by, and for the Iraqi people."

When respondents are informed that the coalition effort has cost an estimated $170 billion U.S.—and reminded that approximately 2,400 American soldiers have died—the level of rejection to the war reaches 56 per cent.

Polling Data

Form A - When it comes to the war in Iraq, do you think that removing Saddam Hussein from power was or was not worth the number of U.S. military casualties and the financial cost of the war?

	Apr. 2006	Mar. 2005	Jan. 2006
Worth it	40%	39%	42%
Not worth it	52%	51%	48%
Depends	4%	6%	5%
Not sure	4%	4%	5%

Form B - An estimated $170 billion U.S. has been spent on the war in Iraq, and approximately 2,400 American soldiers have died. Since the war began, we have overthrown Saddam Hussein, and Iraq has adopted a constitution and an elected government. Would you say the war in Iraq was worth it or not worth it?

Worth it	35%
Not worth it	56%
Depends	5%
Not sure	4%

Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,109 American adults, conducted from Apr. 21 to Apr. 24, 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.