Polls & Research

Americans Want Congress to Change Iraq Policy

- Adults in the United States believe their legislative branch should influence the handling of the coalition effort, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 45 per cent of respondents say Congress now has a mandate to change Iraq policy, while 34 per cent disagree.

On Oct. 29, Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Howard Dean discussed what his party could do in the topic of the Iraq war, saying, "The president will still be in charge of foreign policy and the military, so the influence of a Democratic Congress will be a positive influence, but I don't imagine that we're suddenly going to force the president to reverse his course."

American voters renewed the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate on Nov. 7. The Democratic Party will take control of the House of Representatives for the first time since 1994, with at least 232 lawmakers. A victory for the Democratic candidates for the Senate in Montana and Virginia also gave the party a majority in the upper house.

On election night, California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi—who will take over as House speaker when Congress reconvenes in January—declared, "Nowhere did the American people make it more clear that we need a new direction than in the war in Iraq. 'Stay the course' has not made our country safer, has not honoured our commitment to our troops, and has not made the region more stable. We cannot continue on this catastrophic path."

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,879 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 21,700 troops have been wounded in action.

Polling Data

Does Congress now have a mandate to change Iraq policy?