Polls & Research

American Majority Wants Iraq Troops Home

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe the coalition effort must come to an end, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 53 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should bring its troops home from Iraq as soon as possible.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,351 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 24,900 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 Apr. 25, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 218-208 to authorize a $124.2 billion U.S. war funding bill that calls for U.S. troops to start withdrawing from Iraq on Oct. 1. On Apr. 26, the Senate voted 51-46 in favour of the legislation. U.S. president George W. Bush has vowed to veto any bill that sets a deadline for the coalition effort. 56 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should set a timetable for when troops will be withdrawn from Iraq.

Yesterday, Bush discussed the situation, saying, "I am about to veto a bill that has got artificial timetables for withdrawal. That's not the only bad thing about the bill. It also imposes the judgement of people here in Washington on our military commanders and diplomats. It also adds domestic spending that's unrelated to the war. I have made my position very clear—the Congress chose to ignore it, and so I'll veto the bill."

Polling Data

Do you think the U.S. should keep military troops in Iraq until the situation has stabilized, or do you think the U.S. should bring its troops home as soon as possible?

Do you think the U.S. should or should not set a timetable for when troops will be withdrawn from Iraq?