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Americans Want Troops Out of Iraq in 2008
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe their country's commitment to the coalition effort should come to an end next year, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 55 per cent of respondents favour a proposal to remove almost all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by early 2008.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,664 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 27,100 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. On Jul. 12, Bush discussed the Iraqi government's progress, declaring, "Of the 18 benchmarks Congress asked us to measure, we can report that satisfactory progress is being made in eight areas."
The U.S. Congress has asked commander of the Multi-National Force - Iraq David Petraeus and U.S. ambassador in Iraq Ryan Crocker to provide a comprehensive assessment of the situation in Iraq in September.
On Jul. 31, U.S. vice-president Dick Cheney acknowledged that his May 2005 assessment of the Iraqi insurgency as being "in its last throes" was wrong, adding, "When you think about what's been accomplished in, what, about four years now since we originally launched in there, they have, in fact, held three national elections and written a constitution. There are a significant number of Iraqis now serving in the armed forces, serving as part of the security forces. We have made progress on that front."
Original Release from Rasmussen Reports
Polling Data
A proposal has been made to remove almost all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by early 2008. Do you favour or oppose this proposal?
Aug. 2 | Jun. 28 | |
Favour | 55% | 56% |
Oppose | 34% | 35% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 likely American voters, conducted on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.