Daily Research News Online no. 4210 - Troops Out of Iraq, say US Adults

Troops Out of Iraq, say US Adults

June 24 2005

Views in the US have changed dramatically since October 2003, according to the latest Harris Poll. A clear majority (63%) is now in favour of bringing American troops home from Iraq in the next year - compared with only 47% in October 2003. At the same time, many Americans believe that life in Iraq is improving.

The survey, conducted with 1,015 US adults between June 7th and 12th, shows a clear split along party lines, but even Republicans are by no means decided against a return - 55% favour keeping a large number of troops in Iraq with 40% opposed, while Democrats oppose it (by 79 to 18%) and Independents (by 64 to 30%) also favour bringing them home.

Americans are also growing less certain about the consequences of the war. This time last year, 58% thought the invasion of Iraq had strengthened the war on terror. This has now fallen to 43%. Meanwhile, around half the US public (51%) is not confident that Iraq will be 'successful in developing a stable and reasonably democratic government'.

	Oct 2004	Feb 2004	April 2004	June 2004	Aug 2004	Sept 2004	Oct 2004	Nov 2004	Feb 2004	Apr 2005	NOW 2005
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Favor keeping a large number of US troops in Iraq until there is a stable government there	46	45	42	39	40	38	47	50	39	40	33
Favor bringing most of our troops home in the next year	47	51	51	56	54	54	50	47	59	60	63
Not sure / refused	7	4	8	6	5	7	3	2	1	*	4

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.

Despite this, 68% feel that life for Iraqis is getting better. This also applies to the infrastructure of Iraq, which 61% believe is improving, and the security of Iraqi civilians, which 56% think is getting better.

Finally, the American public is split on the issue of whether insurgents in Iraq are being contained by security forces: 42% think they are, but 41% feel the insurgents are getting the upper hand.

'Do you think the invasion of Iraq strengthened or weakened the war on terrorism?' Base: All Adults
	June 2004	Aug 2004	Sept 2004	Oct 2004	Nov 2005	Feb 2005	Apr 2005	NOW 2005
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Strengthened the war on terrorism	52	50	43	52	48	46	49	43
Weakened the war on terrorism	38	40	41	45	48	48	47	44
Not sure/Refused	10	10	16	3	4	6	4	12

Note:Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.