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Iraq War Expenses Raise Questions in U.S.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many American adults are worried about the price of the coalition effort, according to a poll by the New York Times and CBS News. 83 per cent of respondents are very or somewhat concerned that the war in Iraq is costing money and resources that are needed in the United States.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 1,907 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 14,300 troops have been injured.
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.
On Sept. 2, U.S. president George W. Bush dismissed criticism about devoting too many resources to the coalition effort in Iraq in detriment of the victims of the natural disaster, saying, "We've got a job to defend this country and the war on terror, and we've got a job to bring aid and comfort to the people of the Gulf Coast, and we'll do both. We've got plenty of resources to do both."
The war cost is expected to top $200 billion U.S. at the end of the year. In January 2003, Mitch Daniels—then the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget—forecast a total cost of "between $50 and $60 billion U.S." 43 per cent of respondents say they feel proud about what the U.S. is doing in the war with Iraq, a 22-point drop since March 2003.
Polling Data
How concerned are you that the war in Iraq is costing money and resources that are needed in the U.S. instead?
Very concerned | 53% |
Somewhat concerned | 30% |
Not too concerned | 11% |
Not at all concerned | 5% |
Don't know | 1% |
Would you say you feel proud about what the U.S. is doing in the war with Iraq or not proud about what the U.S. is doing?
Sept. 2005 | Mar. 2003 | |
Proud | 43% | 65% |
Not proud | 49% | 27% |
Don't know | 8% | 8% |
Source: CBS News / The New York Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,167 American adults, conducted from Sept. 9 to Sept. 13, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.