Angus Reid Global Scan : Polls & Research
Support for Iraq War Keeps Falling in U.S.
June 2, 2006
(Angus Reid Global Scan) +óGé¼GÇ£ Many adults in the United States continue to question their government+óGé¼Gäós decision to launch the coalition effort, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 56 per cent of respondents think going to war with Iraq was the wrong thing to do.
The number of Americans who express satisfaction with the decision to go to war in Iraq has fallen to 39 per cent, down two points since December.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein+óGé¼Gäós regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,471 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 18,100 troops have been wounded in action.
Last month, it was revealed that there were inconsistencies in the original report of an incident that took place in Haditah on Nov. 19, 2005. An official statement from the U.S. military claimed that "marines returned fire" when "gunmen attacked (their) convoy with small arms fire" after a roadside bomb exploded.
However, video evidence suggests that 12 U.S. Marines could have killed 24 unarmed Iraqis. A preliminary probe into the incident found that the Marines provided a false account of what happened. Two official enquiries+óGé¼GÇ¥one led by the U.S. Army and another by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)+óGé¼GÇ¥have been ordered.
Yesterday, U.S. president George W. Bush discussed the situation, saying, "There was an incident that took place in Iraq. It+óGé¼Gäós now being investigated. And this is just a reminder for troops in Iraq, or throughout our military, that there are high standards expected of them and that there are strong rules of engagement." 57 per cent of respondents would either decrease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq or remove them altogether.
Polling Data
Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
May 2006
Mar. 2006
Dec. 2005
Right
39%
40%
41%
Wrong
56%
56%
54%
Not sure
5%
4%
5%
From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what should the United States do?
Increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq
11%
Keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now
25%
Decrease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq
28%
Remove all its troops from Iraq
29%
Not sure
6%
Source: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,534 registered American voters, conducted from May 23 to May 30, 2006. Margin of error is 2.3 per cent.