Poll: Three in four back Iraq troop pullout

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Foreign Policy ,; Polling

(Credit: CBS)

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

Three in four Americans support President Obama's decisions to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year, a new CBS News survey finds. Seventy-seven percent approve of the decision, including 63 percent of Republicans. Just 17 percent disapprove.

The position appears to be grounded in a sense that America made a mistake in entering Iraq in the first place. Sixty-seven percent of Americans say the result of the Iraq war was not worth the loss of American life and other costs associated with the war, while just 24 percent say it was worth it. Republicans are more likely to say the war was worth the costs, but even among Republicans, one in two say it was not worth it.

Americans are more supportive when it comes to removing Saddam Hussein from power, though they still question the decision. Forty-one percent say removing the former Iraqi leader from power was worth the costs, while 50 percent say it was not.

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This poll was conducted by telephone from November 6-10, 2011 among 1,182 adults nationwide. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The margin of error for the sample of registered voters could be plus or minus three points and six points for the sample of Republican primary voters. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by nancy_naive November 15, 2011 6:20 AM EST: Okay, everybody! All together, now, "Peace With Honor!"

One more time, "Peace With Honor!"

Now run.; Reply to this comment


by smittyc November 13, 2011 7:24 PM EST: I would say the poll indicates America is sick of war. I am glad and relieved that Obama lived up to Bush's timetable on withdrawal from Iraq. I hope we withdraw from Afghanistan soon as well. God Bless our troops and God bless America.; Reply to this comment


by jgiaco2012ronpaul November 13, 2011 5:51 PM EST: More than 3/4 want us out of Iraq, and...you think Ron Paul is "definite long shot" with 5% of the vote? Why dont you put the debate poll back up CBS? Afraid of someone?; Reply to this comment


by nonpolitico November 13, 2011 2:40 PM EST: I think we are looking at the situation from the wrong end.
When the **** attacked Peral Harbor, the US forces were, thanks to the isolationist attitude of many influential commentators and politicians,the USA was unready to fight even a bush war on the Mexican border in 1939.
The Military Brass hailed the Cavalry as the answer, even with the exposure to WWI which introduced mass artillery and tanks for the first time.

We were badly placed even in 1942 and much hard work was needed and fortunately occurred so that 1944 D-Day became the success we all remember.

Today with the lessons of Iraq/Afghanistan behind us, and with better intelligence than that available in 1939, we still are planning to reduce US Armed Forces!?

Do politicians NEVER learn from the past??

Iran: Will they wont they? Have they haven`t they?
Is this the best USA can do...Guess??

Perhaps we need to send out a clear enough message so that EVEN A FOOL will believe it...EVEN MUSLIM FOOLS!!
Iran is reported as being "Close" to having an A-Bomb.

They KNOW that Israel has nuclear weapons. They know how that same state whipped the whole Arab world in SIX DAYS, in 1967.
They know that the USA has many Nuclear weapons, and that US Aircraft carriers are able to strike with nuke tipped missiles anywhere in the world.

But they are a relgiously run nation, who believe their God will take care of the USA.
If they would ever consider using an A weapon, perhaps it would be because of their belief that Allah would come to their rescue and destroy the "Infidels".
Whilst legends may be ok in history books and Bronze Age texts, the fact remains that they may have people in charge fool enough to believe their own religious propaganda!!

Perhaps a smart move would be for the White House to put out the message that, were Iran to launch against anyone, for that matter, if ANYONE was to launch N weapons at USA or allies, they would see their country converted from a vibrant area to a smoking ruin, as USA would retaliate.

The reason the Iranians are pushing the boundaries is that the present WH incumbent in his first act as President actually said "let`s be Friends"!!!

The message which Reagan gave to Gadhaffi in the 1980s re the Gulf of Sirte (international waters), was basically "Don`t mess with the US Navy".
Ghadaffi did. As a result many Libyans died and many Libyan aircraft were destroyed, along with ships.(By the US Navy)

The Iranian Mullahs need to be sent a similar message.

Unfortunately Obama does not have the mettle that Reagan had, Neither does he seem to love the USA as Reagan did, otherwise our President would have the State Department draw a line in the sand for the benefit of the Iranian leaders!

Pity it may come to another shooting war before Washington learns how to speak from strength, and that a US threat is usually followed by US action!
Remember, we have had more people killed in wars since 1945 than is good for the world, yet politicians still believe they can use force to get their own way. (The present Middle East is a prime example)

USA need to send out a clear message to would be agressors, and be willing to back it up! To this end, stopping the cuts in the US military is a good way to convince the international community.

For as China is now taking US technology and copying it to allow the N Koreans technology to be improved and sold to anyone who may want it to use against us, now is NOT the time to return to a pre Pearl Harbor military mindset!!; Reply to this comment


by nonpolitico November 13, 2011 1:57 PM EST: It is amazing how confused the USA now is about taking military action,and how confused Obamas Administration is about what to do next.
We are seeing massive cuts to military, and different signals coming from the WH and Pentagon.
Anyone remember Ronald Reagan during the Cold War??
Asked his opinion as to what he thought about the Cold War and the standoff between USA and USSR. Reagan replied "Simple, We win, They lose!"
Perhaps todays hopefuls for the White House should take to heart the simplicity of message Reagan used, and remember We actually DID win the Cold War...thanks to a great communicator and a great President!
No chance of the present WH incumbent imitating Reagan`s success any time soon.
But USA desperately needs a leader who will concentrate on the USA and take strong action to defeat the foes of the USA.
I do not see one in the present line up...from ANY party!!; Reply to this comment


by EDLMELO November 12, 2011 4:28 PM EST: 70% of the people want to get out of Iraq,yet according to CBS polls,Ron Paul is only getting 5% of the vote.What a bunch of liers.These polls are obviously so inaccurate.The people they are polling are mainly old people who only get their news from the mainstream media and they are polling around 500 people,so when they say Romney has 20% of the vote he really got 100 votes.The online polls Ron Paul wins mostly all of them with tens of thousands of votes and they say it's rigged.Wake up people,your being brainwashed.; Reply to this comment


by gadfly65 November 12, 2011 11:09 AM EST: Thia shows how disconnected the GOP is from America's mainstream; they tried paint our withdrawal from Iraq in numerous negative shades to promote their war-profit serving agenda. They clearly didn't realize that America is fed up with this waste of life and money.; Reply to this comment

by jbielot1 November 12, 2011 7:59 AM EST

Who did you poll? Registered liberals? Considering CBS is a liberal outlet, the "alleged" results are most likely slanted. I don't buy the self-proclaimed label of "main" street either when it comes to the MSM. As far as I am concerned, the media are liberal political hacks--nothing more, nothing less-lacking and serious lacking in credibility. Now if they were the subsistitute the moniker of "smut" for "street" their claim would register more believable.

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by GoUnion86 November 12, 2011 9:06 AM EST: I'd say 77% is a conservative number so it must have been a faux news poll.


by retm-w November 12, 2011 9:35 AM EST: Bush sure used the liberal media to push his lie of WMD's in Iraq, guess that was OK though.

by kansas1946 November 11, 2011 9:11 PM EST

Well, I hope that everyone forgets to vote Republican next go around, or we will be right back emroiled in some other fiasco. Their only answer to anything is war, regardless of need.

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by 1American November 12, 2011 8:48 AM EST: Right kansas. with this present administration there will be no more war. JUST CAPITULATION! On your knees infidel.

by CaptainSmollett November 11, 2011 8:51 PM EST

And what do you suppose Iran will do when we leave? Just be a good neighbor? I think not.

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by tvwatcher5345 November 11, 2011 9:12 PM EST: iran has already won the iraq war, to quote the republican neocon john bolton, "iran should be thanking us"