June 06, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States remain uneasy about the coalition effort, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 52 per cent of respondents think the U.S. mission in Iraq be seen as a failure in the long run.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States remain uneasy about the coalition effort, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 52 per cent of respondents think the U.S. mission in Iraq be seen as a failure in the long run.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 4,092 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and 30,100 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 Jun. 4, Illinois senator Barack Obama—the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee—discussed his views on Iraq, saying, "I have proposed a responsible, phased redeployment of our troops from Iraq. We will get out as carefully as we were careless getting in. We will finally pressure Iraq’s leaders to take meaningful responsibility for their own future."

Polling Data

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

	Jun. 2008	May 2008	Apr. 2008
Success	31%	28%	32%
Failure	52%	52%	50%

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted on Jun. 2, 2008. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.