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Americans Would Begin Iraq Withdrawal in 2007
(ARGM) - Many adults in the United States believe the soldiers currently fighting in Iraq should start to return home in 2007, according to a poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion Strategies for National Public Radio. 68 per cent of respondents favour beginning to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq during the first half of next year.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,954 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 22,400 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.
On Dec. 6, the Iraq Study Group—a bipartisan panel of experts—presented its findings on how to deal with the situation in Iraq. The ten members called for a quicker process to train Iraqi forces, engaging with Iran and Syria in a dialogue aimed at stabilizing Iraq, and pulling back U.S. combat troops by early 2008.
Yesterday, U.S. president George W. Bush discussed the situation in Iraq, saying, "We are looking at all options and that includes increasing more troops. I have not made up my mind. There has to be a specific mission that can be accomplished with more troops before I agree on that strategy. My administration will work with Republicans and Democrats to fashion a new way forward in Iraq. Victory is still achievable."
Polling Data
Do you favour or oppose beginning to withdraw United States troops from Iraq during the first half of next year?
Favour | 68% |
Oppose | 26% |
Not sure | 5% |
Refused | 1% |
Source: Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research / Public Opinion Strategies / National Public Radio
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 likely American voters, conducted from Dec. 7 to Dec. 10, 2006. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.