(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer adults in the United States believe the coalition effort will ultimately be regarded in a negative light, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 49 per cent of respondents think the U.S. mission in Iraq will be seen as a failure in the long run, down eight points since August.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,840 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and at least 28,300 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.

Last month, 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 Oct. 25, U.S. state secretary Condoleezza Rice discussed the coalition effort, saying, "There is a very bad problem of corruption in Iraq. It is a problem in ministries, it is the problem in government, it is a problem with officials. (...) Frankly, (the Iraq war) has been harder than I thought it would be. I cannot by any means make up for the terrible sacrifice. But I can say that I think nothing of value is ever won without sacrifice. And yes, I do believe that it’s been worth it."

Polling Data

In the long run, will the U.S. mission in Iraq be seen as a success or a failure?

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 likely American voters, conducted on Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.

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