(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the United States disagree with the way their government has dealt with the coalition effort, according to a poll by Public Opinion Strategies and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research released by National Public Radio. 53 per cent of respondents think the current strategy leaves 130,000 troops caught up in an endless religious civil war, and call for a troop reduction to force the Iraqis to find a political solution.

Conversely, 41 per cent of respondents think a troop surge at the beginning of this year has improved the situation in Iraq, and suggest a slow troop reduction followed by a full withdrawal only after Iraq becomes stable.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,829 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and at least 28,200 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.

Yesterday, Bush launched a plan to reform the system that takes care of troops wounded in action, saying the current platform is "an old system, it’s an antiquated system, it’s an outdated system that needs to be changed." Among other things, the reforms will simplify existing guidelines and incorporate assistance packages for the families of the wounded soldiers.

Bush also discussed the current state of affairs in Iraq, declaring, "The Iraq situation cannot be won by military means alone. There has to be political reconciliation to go with it. There has to be an emergence of a democracy. That’s been my position ever since it started."

Polling Data

On Iraq... Which statement comes closest to your own opinion?

Source: Public Opinion Strategies / Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research / National Public Radio
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 likely American voters, conducted from Oct. 4 to Oct. 7, 2007. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.

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