March 02, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in the United States remain upset at their government’s decision to launch the coalition effort, according to a poll by CBS News. 58 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should have stayed out of Iraq, and 54 per cent say things are going badly for the U.S. in its efforts to bring stability and order to Iraq.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in the United States remain upset at their government’s decision to launch the coalition effort, according to a poll by CBS News. 58 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should have stayed out of Iraq, and 54 per cent say things are going badly for the U.S. in its efforts to bring stability and order to Iraq.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,973 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and 29,200 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.

On Feb. 28, Bush rejected calls for a troop withdrawal, saying, "It’s interesting that many of the same people who once accused me of refusing to acknowledge setbacks in Iraq now are the ones who are refusing to acknowledge progress in Iraq. If we followed their advice a year ago, Iraq would be a far different and more dangerous place than it is today. And the American people would be at greater risk. If we follow their advice now, we would put at risk the gains our troops have made over the past year. Congress does need to act when it comes to Iraq. What they need to do is stand by our brave men and women in uniform and fully fund the troops."

Polling Data

Looking back, do you think the United States did the right thing in taking military action against Iraq, or should the U.S. have stayed out?

	Feb. 2008	Jan. 2008	Dec. 2007
Right thing	38%	36%	41%
Stayed out	58%	58%	54%
Unsure	4%	6%	5%

How would you say things are going for the U.S. in its efforts to bring stability and order to Iraq? Would you say things are going very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?

	Feb. 2008	Jan. 2008	Dec. 2007
Very well	6%	7%	4%
Somewhat well	37%	31%	34%
Somewhat badly	30%	27%	29%
Very badly	24%	32%	30%
Unsure	3%	3%	3%

Source: CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,266 American adults, conducted from Feb. 20 to Feb. 24, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.