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More Americans Decry Bush’s Handling of Iraq
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Few adults in the United States are satisfied with how George W. Bush is dealing with the coalition effort, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates for the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 34 per cent of respondents approve of the way the U.S. president is handling the situation in Iraq, down three points since May.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 1,893 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 14,300 troops have been injured.
Yesterday, Bush vowed to press forward in the fight against terrorism, saying, "The world's civilized nations face a common enemy, an enemy that hates us, because of the values we hold in common. The terrorists have a strategy: They want to force those of us who love freedom to retreat, to pull back so they can topple governments in the Middle East and turn that region into a safe haven for terrorism."
Hurricane Katrina hit the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Aug. 29. Officials believe thousands of residents may have died as a result of the storm and its aftermath. 56 per cent of respondents believe Bush should focus more on domestic policy than on the war on terrorism at this time, up 16 points since January.
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation in Iraq?
Sept. 2005 | Jul. 2005 | May 2005 | |
Approve | 34% | 35% | 37% |
Disapprove | 58% | 57% | 56% |
Right now, which is more important for Bush to focus on: domestic policy or the war on terrorism?
Sept. 2005 | Jan. 2005 | |
Domestic Policy | 56% | 40% |
The war on terrorism | 25% | 44% |
Neither | 1% | 1% |
Both | 12% | 13% |
Don't know / Refused | 6% | 2% |
Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,000 American adults, conducted on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, 2005. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.