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Most Americans Want Soldiers Out of Iraq

March 21, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe their country's participation in the coalition effort should come to an end in 2008, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates released by Newsweek. 59 per cent of respondents favour Congressional legislation that would require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the fall of next year.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,222 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 24,000 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.

Last week, Democratic Delaware senator Joe Biden—who is running for his party's presidential nomination in 2008—criticized the Bush administration, saying, "Let's get on with this. This is the only rational way to move. All this malarkey about cutting off funds—this is about the mission. Mr. President, you're leading us off a cliff. Stop." 61 per cent of respondents think the U.S. is losing ground in its efforts to establish security and democracy in Iraq.

Polling Data

Do you favour or oppose Congressional legislation that would require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the fall of 2008?

Favour

59%

Oppose

34%

Don't know

7%

All in all, do you think the United States is making progress or losing ground in its efforts to establish security and democracy in Iraq?

Mar. 2007

Jan. 2007

Dec. 2006

Making progress

29%

24%

21%

Losing ground

61%

67%

68%

Don't know

10%

9%

11%

Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Newsweek
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,001 American adults, conducted on Mar. 14 to Mar. 16, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.