April 28, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe their federal government should establish a date for the end of the coalition effort, according to a poll by CBS News and the New York Times. 64 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq sometime in 2008, up seven points since mid-April.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe their federal government should establish a date for the end of the coalition effort, according to a poll by CBS News and the New York Times. 64 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq sometime in 2008, up seven points since mid-April.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,334 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 24,900 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 Apr. 25, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 218-208 to authorize a $124.2 billion U.S. war funding bill that calls for U.S. troops to start withdrawing from Iraq on Oct. 1. On Apr. 26, the Senate voted 51-46 in favour of the legislation.

Yesterday, U.S. president George W. Bush discussed his views on the actions of Congress, saying, "I haven't vetoed the first bill yet. But I'm going to. And the reason why I'm going to is because members of Congress have made military decisions on behalf of the military. They're telling our generals what to do. They're withdrawing before we've even finished reinforcing our troops in Baghdad. They're sending, in my judgment, a bad message to the Iraqis and to the enemy and, most importantly, to our military folks. So I made it clear I'd veto." 57 per cent of respondents think Congress should have the final say about U.S. troop levels in Iraq.

Polling Data

Do you think the United States should or should not set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq sometime in 2008?

	Apr. 24	Apr. 12
Should	64%	57%
Should not	32%	38%
Unsure	4%	5%

Currently, U.S. president George W. Bush and Congress disagree about what to do about U.S. troop levels in Iraq. Who do you think should have the final say about troop levels in Iraq: the president or Congress?

	Apr. 24	Apr. 12
Congress	57%	49%
President	35%	44%
Both	3%	3%
Unsure	5%	4%

Source: CBS News / New York Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,052 American adults, conducted from Apr. 20 to Apr. 24, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.