August 25, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe it is time for the coalition effort to end, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. 42 per cent of respondents think U.S. troops should leave Iraq now.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe it is time for the coalition effort to end, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. 42 per cent of respondents think U.S. troops should leave Iraq now.

Conversely, 23 per cent of respondents want the soldiers to remain in Iraq whether or not most people there want them to stay, while 21 per cent would only allow the troops to continue their deployment if most Iraqis agree to it.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,726 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 27,500 troops have been wounded in action. 46 per cent of respondents think taking military action against Iraq was the wrong thing to do.

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 Jan. 10, U.S. president George W. Bush introduced his new course of action for the coalition effort, which includes an increase in U.S. troop levels. On Jul. 12, Bush discussed the Iraqi government's progress, declaring, "Of the 18 benchmarks Congress asked us to measure, we can report that satisfactory progress is being made in eight areas."

The U.S. Congress has asked commander of the Multi-National Force - Iraq David Petraeus and U.S. ambassador in Iraq Ryan Crocker to provide a comprehensive assessment of the situation in Iraq in September. 42 per cent of respondents think that the situation for U.S. troops in Iraq is getting worse, down four points since May.

On Aug. 22, Bush discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "If we were to abandon the Iraqi people, the terrorists would be emboldened, and use their victory to gain new recruits. (...) Unlike in Vietnam, if we withdraw before the job is done, this enemy will follow us home. And that is why, for the security of the United States of America, we must defeat them overseas so we do not face them in the United States of America."

Polling Data

Do you think U.S. troops should stay in Iraq.?

	Aug. 2007	Jul. 2003
Whether or not most people there want them to stay	23%	31%
Only if most people there want them to stay	21%	36%
Neither / They should leave now	42%	18%
Not sure	14%	14%

Thinking about everything that has happened, do you think that taking military action against Iraq was the right or wrong thing to do?

	Aug. 2007	May 2007	Mar. 2007
Right thing	35%	36%	34%
Wrong thing	46%	45%	46%
Not sure	20%	19%	19%

Do you think that the situation for U.S. troops in Iraq is.?

	Aug. 2007	May 2007	Mar. 2007
Getting better	20%	18%	13%
Getting worse	42%	46%	51%
No real change	30%	29%	28%
Not sure	8%	8%	8%

Source: Harris Interactive
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,694 American adults, conducted from Aug. 7 to Aug. 13, 2007. No margin of error was provided.