Polls & Research
Archive Search
Support for Iraq War Hits Lowest Point in U.S.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Fewer Americans are satisfied with their government's decision to launch the coalition effort, according to a poll by CBS News and the New York Times. 39 per cent of respondents think the United States did the right thing in taking military action against Iraq.
The survey marks the first time that fewer than four-in-ten Americans have expressed satisfaction with the decision to go to war in Iraq.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,430 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 17,900 troops have been wounded in action.
On May 7, U.S. vice-president Dick Cheney discussed the way Iraqis perceive coalition soldiers, saying, "I think we clearly are viewed as liberators by the vast majority of the Iraqi people. No question we've had problems with a group of terrorist insurgents, but that's a very small minority." 60 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, up six points since January.
Polling Data
Looking back, do you think the United States did the right thing in taking military action against Iraq, or should the U.S. have stayed out?
May 2006 | Mar. 2006 | Feb. 2006 | |
Right thing | 39% | 41% | 41% |
Stayed out | 56% | 54% | 54% |
Not sure | 5% | 5% | 5% |
Do you think the United States should or should not set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq?
May 2006 | Jan. 2006 | |
Should | 60% | 54% |
Should not | 36% | 40% |
Don't know | 4% | 6% |
Source: CBS News / The New York Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,241 American adults, conducted from May 4 to May 8, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.