Polls & Research

Americans Want to Decrease Iraq Troops

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in the United States remain sceptical about their president's plan to deal with the coalition effort, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates released by Newsweek. 50 per cent of respondents think the level of U.S. troops in Iraq should be decreased.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,062 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 22,900 troops have been wounded in action.

In December 2005, Iraqi voters renewed their National Assembly. In May 2006, Shiite United Iraqi Alliance member Nouri al-Maliki officially took over as prime minister.

On Jan. 10, U.S. president George W. Bush introduced his new course of action for the coalition effort, which includes an increase in U.S. troop levels. 46 per cent of respondents believe the Democrats in Congress should try to block the funding needed to pay for the additional troops Bush wants, while 46 per cent disagree.

On Jan. 23 in his State of the Union address, Bush urged lawmakers to support his strategy, saying, "We went into this largely united, in our assumptions and in our convictions. And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure. Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work. And I ask you to support our troops in the field, and those on their way." 64 per cent of respondents think the war in Iraq has not made Americans safer from terrorism.

Polling Data

At this point, do you think the level of U.S. troops in Iraq should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?

Do you think Democrats in Congress should take action to try to block the additional funding needed to pay for the additional troops Bush wants, or should not try to block funding?

In general, do you think the Iraq war has made Americans safer from terrorism, or not?