Polls & Research

U.S. Wants Reasons for Troops to Stay in Iraq

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States believe their president should present a clear case for the continuation of the current troop deployment in Iraq, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 54 per cent of respondents think that George W. Bush has not given good reasons for why the U.S. must keep troops in Iraq.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,153 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 16,000 troops have been injured. 50 per cent of respondents are less confident that the war in Iraq will come to a successful conclusion, down eight points since November.

Iraqi voters renewed their National Assembly on Dec. 15. Preliminary reports indicate that the turnout was 70 per cent in the entire country.

Yesterday, Bush said his goal is "to have an Iraq that can defend itself and sustain itself, an Iraq that will help us defeat the terrorists in this war on terror, an Iraq that will serve as such a powerful example for other countries in the region that share the same desires as the Iraqi citizen—that is the desire to live in a free world and a free society." 68 per cent of respondents believe there should not be an immediate troop withdrawal.

Polling Data

Do you think that George W. Bush has or has not given good reasons for why the United States must keep troops in Iraq?

Do you think that the United States should maintain its current troop level in Iraq to help secure peace and stability, or should the United States reduce its number of troops now that Iraq has adopted a

constitution? More specifically, do you think that we should have an immediate and orderly withdrawal of all troops from Iraq, or not?

And do you feel more confident or less confident that the war in Iraq will come to a successful conclusion?