Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Iraq Conflict Not Worth Fighting, Say Americans

November 05, 2005

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States believe their federal administration should not have launched the coalition effort, according to a poll by CBS News. 64 per cent of respondents believe the result of the war with Iraq was not worth the loss of American life and other costs.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,037 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 15,300 troops have been injured.

In his Oct. 29 radio address, U.S. president George W. Bush ruled out any changes to current policies, saying, "The best way to honour the sacrifice of our fallen troops is to complete the mission and win the war on terror." 50 per cent of respondents believe U.S. troops should leave Iraq as soon as possible, even if Iraq is not completely stable, while 43 per cent think the soldiers should stay in Iraq.

Yesterday in Argentina, Bush discussed his strategy, saying, "My job is to set clear goals and deal with the problems we face. Now, look, we've got an ongoing war on terror. And my administration is working with friends and allies to find these terrorists and bring them to justice before they strike us again. We're fighting the terrorists in Iraq." 62 per cent of respondents disapprove of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq.

Polling Data

Do you think the result of the war with Iraq was worth the loss of American life and other costs of attacking Iraq, or not?

 

Nov. 2005

Oct. 2005

Sept. 2005

Worth it

31%

32%

33%

Not worth it

64%

64%

61%

Don't know

5%

5%

6%

Should the United States troops stay in Iraq as long as it takes to make sure Iraq is a stable democracy, even if it takes a long time, or should U.S. troops leave Iraq as soon as possible, even if Iraq is not completely stable?

 

Nov. 2005

Oct. 2005

Stay as long as it takes

43%

36%

Leave as soon as possible

50%

59%

Don't know / No answer

7%

5%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?

 

Nov. 2005

Oct. 2005

Sept. 2005

Approve

32%

32%

36%

Disapprove

62%

64%

59%

No opinion

6%

4%

5%

Source: CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 936 American adults, conducted from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

Other poll highlights: 57 per cent say things going badly for U.S. in Iraq, 48 per cent say Iraq will never become a democracy, 38 per cent say the Bush administration hid "important elements" when discussing the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.


Complete Poll (PDF)

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