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Few Americans See Success in Iraq Troop Surge
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few adults in the United States think their government's latest strategy in Iraq has been effective, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 43 per cent of respondents think the troop surge has been a failure, 19 per cent deem it a success, and 24 per cent believe it is too early to tell if it is working.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,608 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 26,500 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. 44 per cent of respondents think the lives of the Iraqi people will be better than they were when Hussein was in power after U.S. troops leave.
On Jul. 14, al-Maliki said Iraqi forces are ready to take over security if the U.S. withdraws its soldiers from Iraq, and blamed "international interference" for Iraq's perceived slow political progress.
Polling Data
Was the troop surge a success or a failure?
Success | 19% |
Failure | 43% |
Too early to tell | 24% |
When U.S. troops leave, will the lives of the Iraqi people be better or worse than they were when Saddam Hussein was in power?
Better | 44% |
Worse | 21% |
No impact | 11% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 American likely voters, conducted on Jul. 9 and Jul. 10, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.