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Iraq Like Vietnam War for 58% of Americans
- More adults in the United States think the coalition effort is becoming similar to the Vietnam War, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 58 per cent of respondents believe the war in Iraq has turned into a situation like the United States faced in Vietnam, up six points since early October.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,867 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 21,700 troops have been wounded in action. An American military intervention in Vietnam left more than 1.5 million dead from 1964 to 1975, including 58,226 U.S. soldiers.
In April 2004, Democratic Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy stated that the war in Iraq had become the current administration's "Vietnam." U.S. president George W. Bush rejected the suggestion, saying that it "sends the wrong message to our troops and sends the wrong message to the enemy."
On Nov. 17, Bush commented on the current state of Vietnam during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, saying, "I guess my first reaction is history has a long march to it, and that societies change and relationships can constantly be altered to the good." 63 per cent of respondents oppose the U.S. war in Iraq, unchanged since a survey completed two days before the Nov. 7 mid-term congressional election.
Polling Data
Do you think the war in Iraq has turned into a situation like the United States faced in the Vietnam War, or don't you think so?
Nov. 19 | Oct. 2 | |
Like Vietnam | 58% | 52% |
Don't think so | 37% | 45% |
Unsure | 5% | 3% |
Do you favour or oppose the U.S. war in Iraq?
Nov. 19 | Nov. 5 | Oct. 15 | |
Favour | 33% | 33% | 34% |
Oppose | 63% | 61% | 64% |
Unsure | 4% | 6% | 2% |
Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,025 American adults, conducted from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.