Only 8% Support U.S. Iraq Strategy

By Angus Reid

11/06/06 "Angus Reid Global Monitor" -- -- Many adults in the United States believe their federal administration should alter its tactics in Iraq, according to a poll by the New York Times and CBS News. 61 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. should change its military strategy.

In addition, 27 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should remove all of its troops from Iraq, and eight per cent believe the current military strategy is correct.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,829 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 21,400 troops have been wounded in action.

In December 2005, Iraqi voters renewed their National Assembly. In May, Shiite United Iraqi Alliance member Nouri al-Maliki officially took over as prime minister.

On Nov. 3, Bush discussed the situation in Iraq, saying, "We are constantly adjusting our tactics to meet the enemy. The enemy adjusts, we adjust. I’ve given our commanders the flexibility necessary and whatever they need to win this war. And we’ve got a lot going for us. We got a strategy that helps us achieve victory, and we got a military that is the finest military any country has ever assembled."

Polling Data

Which comes closest to your view? The U.S. should continue fighting the war in Iraq using the same military strategy and tactics it is using now; or The U.S. should continue fighting the war in Iraq by need to change its strategy and tactics; or The U.S. should remove all its troops from Iraq.

Continue strategy
8%

Change strategy
61%

Should not be in Iraq
27%

Not sure
4%

Source: The New York Times / CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,084 American adults, conducted from Oct. 27 to Oct. 31, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent