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Troops Out of Iraq, say US Adults
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. |
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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 |
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| Note:Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
|
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Harris Interactive is online at www.harrisinteractive.com
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