(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few adults in the United States are satisfied with their federal government’s decision to launch the coalition effort, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 68 per cent of respondents oppose the U.S. war in Iraq, and 69 per cent call for a withdrawal of all or some U.S. troops from the country.

In addition, 59 per cent of respondents believe neither side is winning the war, 28 per cent think the U.S. and its allies are emerging victorious, and 11 per cent say the insurgents in Iraq are ahead.

The coalition effort against Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,897 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and 28,700 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, 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 Dec. 17, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh explained the rationale for his country’s continued cooperation with foreign forces, saying, "We need the foreign troops to support us as long as we have security problems. From now to ten years our troops will not be capable to defend Iraq. But that doesn’t mean we will accept the presence of permanent U.S. military bases."

Polling Data

Do you favour or oppose the U.S. war in Iraq?

Which comes closest to your view about what the U.S. should now do about the number of U.S. troops in Iraq?

Who do you think is currently winning the war in Iraq: the U.S. and its allies, the insurgents in Iraq, or neither side?

Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,024 American adults, conducted from Dec. 6 to Dec. 9, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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