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Iraq War Did Not Make U.S. Safer, Say Americans

June 08, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Americans believe the coalition effort did not make their country safer, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 53 per cent of respondents think the war with Iraq has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,501 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 25,800 troops have been wounded in action. 61 per cent of respondents think the war with Iraq was not worth fighting.

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 May 24, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 280-142 on the Iraq supplemental spending bill, which approves $100 billion U.S. for the military missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Senate ratified the measure in an 80-14 vote.

Yesterday, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev discussed the recent rift between the United States and Russia over missile defence, saying, "There is a possibility that self-confidence, arrogance, lack of attention to the will of the peoples will lead to a situation similar to that at the beginning of the war with Iraq."

Polling Data

Do you think the war with Iraq has or has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States?

Jun. 2007

May 2007

Apr. 2007

Yes

44%

48%

52%

No

53%

51%

46%

No opinion

3%

2%

1%

All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not?

Jun. 2007

Apr. 2007

Feb. 2007

Worth fighting

37%

33%

34%

Not worth fighting

61%

66%

64%

No opinion

2%

1%

2%

Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,205 American adults, conducted from May 29 to Jun. 1, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.