(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States remain dissatisfied with their federal administration’s decision to launch the coalition effort, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 57 per cent of respondents think the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq.

In addition, 59 per cent of respondents want the U.S. to set a timetable for removing troops from Iraq and to stick to that timetable regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time, while 38 per cent would keep a significant number of troops in Iraq until the situation there gets better, even if that takes many years.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,887 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and 28,600 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. 7, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is seeking the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2008, discussed the situation in Iran, saying, "(The pressure) worked in 2003 to get (Iran) to back off their nuclear program. And what happened in 2003? What big thing happened in 2003? We deposed Saddam Hussein. America showed massive military force in the country right next to Iran called Iraq."

Polling Data

In view of the developments since we first sent our troops to Iraq, do you think the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq, or not?

If you had to choose, which do you think is better for the U.S.: to keep a significant number of troops in Iraq until the situation there gets better, even if that takes many years, or to set a timetable for removing troops from Iraq and to stick to that timetable regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time?

Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,006 American adults, conducted from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

Archive Search

Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.