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AP Poll: Most view Iraq war as debacle
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 | No comments posted.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans see the Iraq war as a failure, despite a U.S. troop buildup of 30,000 troops that a majority says is not working, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Monday.
The survey was released as Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, told Congress that the surge of 30,000 troops had largely met its military goals and that he can see that by next summer, they would be gone. That would leave a force of about 130,000.
Just 36 percent in the AP poll said the troop increase has helped stabilize Iraq, only slightly more than the 32 percent who said they thought it would in February as the buildup began. Voicing that view were nearly two-thirds of Republicans, about one in seven Democrats and about a third of independents.
In addition, 59 percent said they believe history will judge the Iraq war as a failure, including 28 percent who said it would be viewed as a complete failure.
Asked if the U.S. made a mistake going to war in Iraq in 2003, 57 percent said yes, about the same number who said so in April.
Most Democrats and independents agreed with those assessments, along with about three in 10 Republicans.
The poll involved telephone interviews with 1,000 adults conducted Sept. 6 to 9. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The survey was released as Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, told Congress that the surge of 30,000 troops had largely met its military goals and that he can see that by next summer, they would be gone. That would leave a force of about 130,000.
Just 36 percent in the AP poll said the troop increase has helped stabilize Iraq, only slightly more than the 32 percent who said they thought it would in February as the buildup began. Voicing that view were nearly two-thirds of Republicans, about one in seven Democrats and about a third of independents.
In addition, 59 percent said they believe history will judge the Iraq war as a failure, including 28 percent who said it would be viewed as a complete failure.
Asked if the U.S. made a mistake going to war in Iraq in 2003, 57 percent said yes, about the same number who said so in April.
Most Democrats and independents agreed with those assessments, along with about three in 10 Republicans.
The poll involved telephone interviews with 1,000 adults conducted Sept. 6 to 9. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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