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U.S. Will Not Win Iraq War, Say Americans

November 23, 2006

- The views of adults in the United States on the coalition effort are not particularly positive, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 61 per cent of respondents think the U.S. is not winning the war in Iraq. In addition, 54 per cent of respondents believe the conflict can be won, but 56 per cent say the U.S. will not emerge victorious.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,869 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 21,700 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.

According to figures released by the United Nations (UN) Assistance Mission in Iraq, October was the deadliest month since the coalition effort began, with 3,709 reported civilian deaths. The document also outlines "allegations of criminal and militia infiltration into the police," and states that "the inability of law enforcement agencies and the justice system to protect the population of Iraq (allows) militias and criminal gangs to operate with growing impunity."

A volunteer group of British and U.S. academics and researchers—known as Iraq Body Count (IBC)—estimates that more than 47,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed during the military intervention.

Polling Data

Do you think the United States is winning or not winning the war in Iraq?

Is winning

34%

Is not winning

61%

Unsure

5%

Do you think the United States can win or cannot win the war in Iraq?

Can win

54%

Cannot win

43%

Unsure

3%

And do you think the United States will win or will not win the war in Iraq?

Will win

40%

Will not win

56%

Unsure

4%

Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 512 American adults, conducted from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.