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More Americans Want Troops Out of Iraq
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe the coalition effort must come to an end, according to a poll by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News. 46 per cent of respondents say getting U.S. troops out of Iraq is more important, while 34 per cent would prefer to establish a stable Iraq.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,406 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 25,300 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. On May 1, U.S. president George W. Bush vetoed the bill.
On May 17, Bush discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "There's been a series of votes in Congress that people have been able to express their opinion; now it's time to put forth a spending bill that doesn't have artificial timetables for withdrawal, doesn't micromanage the military, and is wise about how we spend the people's money. We'll work it hard. I think we can get a deal."
When asked how they would behave if they were members of Congress, 39 per cent of respondents would set a specific deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, while 32 per cent would prefer establishing benchmarks for Iraq to meet to receive continued help from the U.S., but without a deadline for withdrawal. Only 24 per cent of respondents think the troop surge should be given time to work before setting any benchmarks or deadlines.
Polling Data
If you had to choose, which is more important to you personally?
For U.S. troops to get out of Iraq | 46% |
For the United States to succeed and establish a stable Iraq | 34% |
Both | 16% |
Don't know | 3% |
If you were a member of Congress, which one of the following proposals on Iraq would you vote for?
Setting a specific deadline for | 39% |
Setting benchmarks for Iraq to meet to | 32% |
Giving the troop surge time to work before | 24% |
Don't know | 6% |
Source: Opinion Dynamics / Fox News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 900 registered American voters, conducted on May 15 and May 16, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.