(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States want the coalition effort to come to an end, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 55 per cent of respondents think the most responsible thing the U.S. can do is find a way to withdraw most of its troops from Iraq by the beginning of 2009.

Conversely, 40 per cent believe the most responsible thing the U.S. can do is to remain in Iraq until the situation in the country is stable.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,866 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and 28,400 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 Nov. 15, army chief of staff George Casey discussed the Iraq war during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, saying, "The current demand for our forces exceeds the sustainable supply. We’re consumed with meeting the demands of the current fight and are unable to provide ready forces as rapidly as necessary for other contingencies."

Polling Data

When it comes to the war in Iraq, which of the following statements comes closer to your point of view?

Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,509 American adults, conducted from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5, 2007. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.

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