September 12, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States think their federal administration should establish a date for the end of the coalition effort in Iraq, according to a review of three recent public opinion polls. In a survey by Gallup released by USA Today, 60 per cent of respondents want the U.S. to set a timetable for removing troops from Iraq and stick to that timetable regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States think their federal administration should establish a date for the end of the coalition effort in Iraq, according to a review of three recent public opinion polls. In a survey by Gallup released by USA Today, 60 per cent of respondents want the U.S. to set a timetable for removing troops from Iraq and stick to that timetable regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time.

In a study by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News, 55 per cent of respondents support legislation that would set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq by next spring.

In the poll by CBS News, 65 per cent of respondents call for either a decrease or the outright removal of U.S. forces from Iraq.

The number of Americans who call for a timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq remained stable in the Gallup/USA Today and TNS/Washington Post/ABC News studies.

All surveys were conducted before 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 on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 3,773 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 27,700 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.

On Sept. 10, Republican Washington congresswoman Cathy McMorris rejected the concept of a timetable, saying, "The key is to be able to (withdraw) from a position of strength and success, not failure. Rapidly withdrawing our troops at this point would have devastating consequences and make a difficult situation worse. It would create a humanitarian crisis, embolden al-Qaeda and terrorists groups and create instability throughout the Middle East."

Polling Data

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?

	Sept. 2007	May 2007	Apr. 2007
Keep troops in Iraq	35%	36%	38%
Set timetable	60%	59%	57%
No opinion	5%	5%	4%

Source: Gallup / USA Today

Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,028 American adults, conducted on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

b) Do you support or oppose legislation that would set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq by next spring?

	Sept. 2007	Jul. 2007
Support	55%	55%
Oppose	41%	43%
No opinion	4%	2%

Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News

Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,002 American adults, conducted from Sept. 4 to Sept. 7, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

c) From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what should the United States do now? Should the U.S. increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now, decrease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, or remove all its troops from Iraq?

 

	Sept. 2007	Aug. 2007
Increase	11%	13%
Same	19%	17%
Decrease	35%	31%
Remove all	30%	30%
Unsure	5%	9%

Source: CBS News

Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,036 American adults, conducted from Sept. 4 to Sept. 8, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.