May 05, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States are disappointed with the coalition effort, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 56 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should bring its troops home from Iraq as soon as possible, and 52 per cent think the U.S. military effort is not going well.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States are disappointed with the coalition effort, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 56 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should bring its troops home from Iraq as soon as possible, and 52 per cent think the U.S. military effort is not going well.

In addition, 47 per cent of respondents believe the United States will definitely or probably succeed in Iraq, while 46 per cent disagree.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 4,063 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and 29,900 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. After July 2008, all troop withdrawals from Iraq will be suspended.

On Apr. 29, Bush defended his country’s military engagements overseas, saying, "Is it in our interest to confront these people now, whether it be in Afghanistan, or Iraq, or Europe, or anywhere else? And the answer is, absolutely, it’s in our interest. And the notion that somehow we can let these people just kind of have their way or, you know, let’s don’t stir them up, is naive or disingenuous, and it’s not in our nation’s interests. We are in a global struggle against thugs and killers. And the United States of America has got to continue to take the lead."

Polling Data

Now, thinking about Iraq. How well is the U.S. military effort in Iraq going?

	Jan. 2008	Nov. 2007	Oct. 2007
Very well	10%	11%	10%
Fairly well	34%	37%	34%
Not too well	28%	29%	29%
Not at all well	24%	19%	22%
Unsure	4%	4%	5%

Do you think the U.S. should keep military troops in Iraq until the situation has stabilized, or do you think the U.S. should bring its troops home as soon as possible?

	Jan. 2008	Nov. 2007	Oct. 2007
Keep in Iraq until stabilized	41%	41%	42%
Bring home as soon as possible	56%	54%	54%
Unsure	3%	5%	4%

Regardless of what you think about the original decision to use military force in Iraq, do you now believe that the United States will definitely succeed, probably succeed, probably fail, or definitely fail in achieving its goals in Iraq?"

	Jan. 2008	Nov. 2007	Oct. 2007
Definitely succeed	12%	11%	11%
Probably succeed	35%	37%	35%
Probably fail	30%	33%	31%
Definitely fail	16%	13%	13%
Unsure	7%	6%	10%

Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,502 American adults, conducted from Apr. 23 to Apr. 27, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.