March 20, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States continue to question whether the coalition effort can be won, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 53 per cent of respondents think the U.S. goal of achieving victory in Iraq is not possible.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States continue to question whether the coalition effort can be won, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 53 per cent of respondents think the U.S. goal of achieving victory in Iraq is not possible.

In addition, 52 per cent of respondents think the most responsible thing the U.S. can do is find a way to withdraw most of our troops from Iraq by the beginning of 2009.

The coalition effort against Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,990 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and 29,300 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.

In September 2007, commander of the Multi-National Force - Iraq David Petraeus and U.S. ambassador in Iraq Ryan Crocker provided a comprehensive assessment of the situation in Iraq to the U.S. Congress. In addition, U.S. president George W. Bush said U.S. forces in Iraq would be reduced by 5,700 troops in December, and announced the possibility of a further decrease in July 2008.

Yesterday, Bush discussed the coalition effort, saying, "Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting, whether the fight is worth winning, and whether we can win it. The answers are clear to me: Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision—and this is a fight America can and must win."

Polling Data

Do you think the U.S. goal of achieving victory in Iraq is still possible, or not?

	Mar. 2008	Dec. 2007	Nov. 2007
Possible	40%	37%	40%
Not possible	53%	56%	54%
Unsure	7%	7%	6%

When it comes to the war in Iraq, which of the following statements comes closer to your point of view?

	Mar. 2008	Dec. 2007	Nov. 2007
The most responsible thing we can do is find a way to withdraw most of our troops from Iraq by the beginning of 2009	52%	57%	55%
The most responsible thing we can do is to remain in Iraq until the situation in the country is stable	43%	40%	40%
Unsure	5%	3%	5%

Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,012 American adults, conducted from Mar. 7 to Mar. 10, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.