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Americans Demand Timetable for Iraq War’s End
- Many adults in the United States want their government to set a date for the conclusion of the coalition effort, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 53 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should set a timetable for when troops will be withdrawn from Iraq.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,753 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 20,800 troops have been wounded in action.
In December 2005, Iraqi voters renewed their National Assembly. In May, Shiite United Iraqi Alliance member Nouri al-Maliki officially took over as prime minister. 47 per cent of respondents think the U.S. made the right decision in using military force against Iraq.
On Oct. 11, U.S. president George W. Bush said he does not contemplate setting as timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, saying, "I would cite my opponent in the 2004 campaign when he said there needs to be a date certain from which to withdraw from Iraq. I characterize that as cut and run because I believe it is cut and run. (The Democrats) may not use cut and run, but they say date certain is when to get out, before the job is done. That is cut and run."
Polling Data
Do you think the U.S. should or should not set a timetable for when troops will be withdrawn from Iraq?
Oct. 2006 | Aug. 2006 | |
Should set a timetable | 53% | 52% |
Should not set a timetable | 39% | 41% |
Should get out now | 2% | 1% |
Don't know / Refused | 6% | 6% |
Do you think the U.S. made the right decision or the wrong decision in using military force against Iraq?
Oct. 2006 | Aug. 2006 | |
Right decision | 45% | 45% |
Wrong decision | 47% | 46% |
Don't know / Refused | 8% | 9% |
Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,503 American adults, conducted from Sept. 21 to Oct. 4, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.