July 07, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe their country's participation in the coalition effort should be scaled down next year, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 56 per cent of respondents favour removing almost all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by early 2008.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe their country's participation in the coalition effort should be scaled down next year, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 56 per cent of respondents favour removing almost all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by early 2008.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,593 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 26,500 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 May, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 280-142 on the Iraq supplemental spending bill, which approves $100 billion U.S. for the military missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Senate ratified the measure in an 80-14 vote.

Last month, Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi called the Iraq war a "grotesque mistake," adding, "While we don't have the 60 votes to overcome the Republicans in the Senate, or we don't have the president's signature, we have the right position on this issue. And the American people know it." 53 per cent of respondents think the Democrats in Congress have not pressed U.S. president George W. Bush hard enough to change his Iraq policies.

Polling Data

Do you favour or oppose removing almost all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by early 2008?

Favour	56%
Oppose	35%

Have the Democrats in Congress done too much to change U.S. president George W. Bush's policies in Iraq, not enough to change Bush's policies in Iraq, or about the right amount?

Too much	26%
Not enough	53%
About right	13%

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 likely American voters, conducted on Jun. 27 and Jun. 28, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.