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U.S. Doing Well in Iraq, Say Americans
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer people in the United States, but still a majority, think their country is doing a good job in bringing stability and order to Iraq, according to a poll by the New York Times and CBS News. 62 per cent of respondents share this view, down nine points since April.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003 during the presidency of George W. Bush. At least 4,324 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 31,300 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 November 2008, Iraq’s National Assembly ratified the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States. The document established that coalition combat forces would withdraw from Iraqi cities by Jun. 30, 2009, and would be completely out of Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011. The agreement could be revised if the Iraqi prime minister believed Iraq was not stable enough.
On Feb. 27, U.S. president Barack Obama announced his intention to end the combat mission in Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010.
On Jun. 30, in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement, the U.S. withdrew most of its troops from Iraqi cities. About 130,000 soldiers will remain stationed in Iraq, mostly outside urban centres and mainly in advisory and consultative roles.
Obama commented on the occasion, saying it was "an important milestone," and adding, "The Iraqi people are rightly treating this day as cause for celebration."
Polling Data
How would you say things are going for the U.S. in its efforts to bring stability and order to Iraq?
|
|
Jun. 2009 |
Apr. 2009 |
Feb. 2009 |
|
Very well |
5% |
7% |
11% |
|
Somewhat well |
57% |
64% |
52% |
|
Somewhat badly |
20% |
20% |
20% |
|
Very badly |
11% |
4% |
9% |
|
Not sure |
7% |
5% |
8% |
Source: New York Times / CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 895 American adults, conducted from Jun. 12 to Jun. 16, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.