Public: Pullout From Iraq Would Be Harmful to U.S.

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll finds most Americans saying it would be harmful to the United States if it withdrew its troops from Iraq before the situation stabilizes there.

A majority also says that it is necessary to keep U.S. troops in Iraq to thwart terrorist attacks on the United States, that the United States and its allies are making progress in Iraq, and that the Bush administration is doing a good job in providing the proper number of troops and right equipment to prevent unnecessary casualties.

The poll was conducted June 29-30, in the two days following President George W. Bush's nationally televised speech to troops at Fort Bragg, N.C., Tuesday night.

In his speech, the president presented his arguments for staying the course in Iraq, saying it was essential for U.S. security. But the poll suggests that he changed few people's minds on the issue. Some of the questions showed slightly more positive views of the war, but the differences between the public's views now and what Gallup measured on the weekend before Bush's speech are small and within the polls' margins of error.

The most widespread consensus among Americans is that a precipitous pullout of American troops would be harmful, a point repeatedly stressed by the president. Sixty-four percent of Americans say if troops were withdrawn before the situation stabilized in Iraq, it would do "more harm than good" to the United States. Just 28% say it would do "more good than harm."

If the United States pulled its troops out of Iraq before things stabilize there, do you think that would --[ROTATED: do more harm than good to the U.S., (or) do more good than harm to the U.S.]?

When people were asked more specifically whether it was necessary to keep U.S. troops in Iraq "in order to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the United States," a smaller majority, 55%, said it was necessary, while 41% disagreed.

Thinking about the current situation, do you think it is -- or is not -- necessary for the United States to keep its troops in Iraq NOW in order to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the U.S.?

Despite these results, the poll suggests some erosion of support if the war persists for a long time. Half of Americans, 49%, say it is better for the United States to set a timetable for removing troops from Iraq and "to stick to that timetable regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time." The other half, 48%, would keep troops in Iraq until things get better, "even if that takes many years."

If you had to choose, which do you think is better for the U.S. -- [ROTATED: to keep a significant number of troops in Iraq until the situation there gets better, even if that takes many years, (or) to set a timetable for removing troops from Iraq and to stick to that timetable regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time]?

The current views are slightly more positive toward keeping the troops in Iraq than the views measured in the June 24-26 poll, but the differences are within the polls' margins of error.

One key to continued support is the public's perception about whether the United States and its allies are making progress in the war. The poll shows that a clear majority, 58%, believes that progress is being made, while just 34% believe allied forces are losing ground to the insurgents.

Which comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: the U.S. and its allies are making progress in Iraq, (or) the U.S. and its allies are losing ground to the insurgents in Iraq]?

While a majority of Americans continue to support keeping troops in Iraq, they are more critical about whether it was necessary or even worth it in the first place.

A slight majority, 52%, say it was not worth going to war, while 46% say it was. This is slightly more positive than what Gallup measured in a June 6-8 poll, but it is consistent with the pattern of responses on this issue this year.

All in all, do you think it was worth going to war in Iraq, or not?

Similarly, when asked whether it was necessary to go to war with Iraq in 2003 in order to prevent additional acts of terrorism, Americans say "no" by a slight majority, 51% to 46%.

Do you think it was -- or was not -- necessary for the United States to invade Iraq in 2003 in order to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the U.S.?

Also, Americans remain divided about how the war with Iraq has affected U.S. security. Forty-four percent say the war has made the United States safer, while 39% say less safe.

Do you think the war with Iraq has made the U.S. safer -- or less safe -- from terrorism?

The results in this poll are slightly more positive than those measured in the June 24-26 poll, but not because more people say the war has made the country safer. The difference is that fewer people say the war has made the country "less safe," while more say there has been no change.

Other results from the poll give mixed reviews to the Bush administration.

Some critics have charged the president with not doing enough to protect U.S. troops from becoming casualties in Iraq, by not providing the right equipment and by not sending enough troops to fight the insurgents. But a majority of Americans seem to dismiss these arguments. Fifty-five percent say the Bush administration is doing a good job in that area, while 42% say a poor job.

How would you rate the job the Bush administration is doing in providing the proper number of troops and right equipment needed to prevent unnecessary casualties in Iraq? Would you say they are doing -- [ROTATED: a very good job, a good job, a poor job, (or) a very poor job]?

On the other hand, the poll also shows that a solid majority of Americans, 58%, believe Bush does not have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq, while just 38% say he does.

Do you think George W. Bush does -- or does not -- have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq?

These views are little changed from the June 24-26 poll.

Finally, whatever the slight changes in attitudes on Iraq, the public shows virtually no change in its overall evaluation of the president. His job approval is 46% in the current poll, just one point higher than the lowest rating of his presidency.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

Survey Methods

Results in the current survey are based on telephone interviews with 883 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted June 29-30, 2005. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

The distribution of party affiliation, compared with the last poll, is as follows: