Poll: Iraq War Takes Toll On U.S.

Majority Of Americans Want U.S. Troops Out Of Iraq

(CBS) 
HOW MUCH LONGER WILL U.S. TROOPS HAVE TO STAY IN IRAQ?
Less than a yea
6%
One to two years
20%
Two to five years
38%
More than five years
28%

THE WAR'S IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES BACK HOME
Most Americans say they are feeling the impact of the Iraq war in their own community -- and one-fourth say there has been a major impact.

THE WAR'S IMPACT ON YOUR OWN COMMUNITY
Major impact 27%
Minor impact 37%
Not much impact 24%
No impact 10%

Certain communities have been more greatly affected by the war than others. 34% of those living in the South say the war has had a major impact on their community; in other regions of the country, about one in four report the same. African Americans, Democrats, those living in cities, and lower income Americans are also more likely to report their communities have been affected by the war.

WAR HAS HAD MAJOR IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITY
Northeast 23%
Midwest 23%
South 34%
West 25%

Whites 23%
Blacks 43%

Republicans 22%
Democrats 32%
Independents 26%

Under $30k 37%
$30-$50k 23%
Over $50k 21%

Cities 32%
Suburbs 24%
Rural areas 25%

That impact has been primarily a negative one. 62 percent of those who say their community was impacted (in either a major or minor way) by the war said that impact was mostly negative; 29 percent said it was positive.

WAS IMPACT OF WAR MOSTLY…?
Among those whose community was affected by war
Negative
62%
Positive
29%

African-Americans are more likely to say their community has seen a major impact from the war, and more likely to say that impact was negative. African Americans are also more likely than white Americans to be a member of a military family (though not necessarily to have served in Iraq). 84 percent of African-Americans who say their community has been affected by the war say that the impact has been negative. Whites are less likely to call the impact negative, but most, 57 percent, still do.

WAS IMPACT OF WAR MOSTLY…?
Among those whose community was affected by war
Positive
Whites
33%
African Americans
14%

Negative
Whites
57%
African Americans
84%

In this poll, 33 percent of African Americans say they or a member of their family is currently serving in the U.S. armed forces. Among whites, 20 percent say they are a member of a military family.

IRAQ MILITARY FAMILIES
The Iraq war has had an even greater impact on the communities of the 16 percent of Americans who say that either they, or a member of their family, has served in the military in Iraq. 43 percent of them say the war has had a major impact on their community, and another 32 percent say it has had a minor impact. Of those seeing an impact, 61 percent said that impact was negative.

Perhaps because of the perceived negative impact on their communities, 40 percent of Iraq military families want all troops to be removed from Iraq now, compared to 32 percent of all Americans.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO U.S. TROOPS?
Increase
All
10%
Iraq military families
8%

Keep same
All
26%
Iraq military families
30%


Decrease
All
27%
Iraq military families
17%

Remove all now
All
32%
Iraq military families
40%

Members of Iraq military families are more likely to be from the South than other regions of the country.

These servicemen and women and their family members, some of whom have seen the situation in Iraq firsthand, share with all Americans the skepticism that Iraq will never become a stable democracy.

WILL IRAQ BECOME A STABLE DEMOCRACY?
Yes, in the next year or two
All
4%
Iraq military families
2%

Yes, but will take longer
All
43%
Iraq military families
39%

No, never
All
50%
Iraq military families
56%