CBS Poll: Public Backs Iraq Timetable

59% Support September 2008 Deadline For Removing U.S. Troops

(CBS/AP)  More than half of Americans support the U.S. House provision setting a timetable that calls for most U.S. troops to be out of Iraq by September, 2008. According to a new CBS News poll, 59% of those surveyed favored the provision while 37% are opposed.

The poll was conducted before Tuesday's Senate vote to include a non-binding withdrawal timetable in its version of legislation to provide continued funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Bush has pledged to veto either version of the legislation, and in a speech Wednesday, reiterated his opposition to a timetable. "The consequences of imposing such a specific and random date of withdrawal would be disastrous," Mr. Bush said in a speech at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association meeting. "Our enemies in Iraq would simply have to mark their calendars. They'd spend the months ahead plotting how to use their new safe haven once we were to leave."

The poll also found that while most Americans believe Iran is providing weapons to insurgents in Iraq, the majority sees that nation as a threat not requiring military action on the part of the U.S. While 65% believe Iraq is aiding insurgents, 54% believe containment is the best policy while just 18% said it requires military action.

On the domestic front, the CBS News poll finds that just half of Americans are following the news about the firing of several U.S. Attorneys but 40% say Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should resign, while 25% say he should not and 35% are not sure. Among those who say they are following the story closely, 55% think Gonzales should resign.

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This poll was conducted among a random sample of 831 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone March 26-27, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus four percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. An oversample of registered voters who plan to vote in a Democratic primary next year was also conducted for this poll, for a total of 539 interviews among this group.

The subsample of all Democratic primary voters was weighted to the proportion of these voters across three previous 2007 CBS News and CBS News/New York Times Polls. The margin of error for Democratic primary voters is plus or minus four percentage points.

[katg21]

So katg21, what happened with Vietnam once that conflicted ended?
Posted by Savan3 at 10:03 AM : Mar 30, 2007

What happened was that through legislation supported by the likes of Ted Kennedy support for the South Vietnamese was stripped, giving communism victory. Iraq will be just like Vietnam; freedom seeking people will be turned over to homicidal maniacs.

[savan3]

Okay, so let's cut and run and let Vietnam happen all over again. The terrorists are just sitting back waiting for us to announce our time table. Posted by katg21 at 08:53 PM : Mar 29, 2007

So katg21, what happened with Vietnam once that conflicted ended? The same Communist that supported Vietnam ( China ) that cost the lives of around 59,000 of Americans young men, are now one of Americas trading partners as well as Vietnam,through NAFTA. No only is China a trading partner, to support this war in Iraq, we are heavily indebt on loans from China.

[starleo146]

Pres. Bush got all the money he asked for and more from the House and Senate, is that enough for him NO he called a veto because too much PORK this money was for Americans Mr. Bush, Katrina, the problem with spinach how much Pork did your Republican majority PASS remember a bridge to nowhere. You spent at least 4-500 billion on Iraq we do need oversight to this money you are sending over there I hear you are bribing the Sunni's what about the equipment our troops need give me a break Mr.Bush its the date you don't like well you have shortchanged our troops for your buddies in Iraq and the Iraq people have suffered along with the American people you need to be IMPEACHED

[starleo146]

Pres. Bush got all the money he asked for and more from the House and Senate, is that enough for him NO he called a veto because too much PORK this money was for Americans Mr. Bush, Katrina, the freeze in California for those crops , the e-coli problem with spinach how much Pork did your Republican majority PASS remember a bridge to nowhere. You spent at least 4-500 billion on Iraq we do need oversight to this money you are sending over there I hear you are bribing the Sunni's what about the equipment our troops need give me a break Mr.Bush its the date you don't like well you have shortchanged our troops for your buddies in Iraq and the Iraque people have suffered along with the American people you need to be IMPEACHED

[randalds]

So incredibly childish, but nothing new.
Posted by singinrick at 01:33 AM : Mar 30, 2007

Yes, you are and yes, it's not.

Oh and yes you did make a joke about the war as*shole.

[ronhono]

Katg21
I see it doesn't bother you one bit to spill more American blood keeping the sides apart in this civil war. Terrorists could care less about a timetable - they'll just wait us out either way. They live there. We don't.

Seeing as how Vietnam is now at peace and trying to attract U.S. business and tourists, your analogy sounds fine to me. Yes, let's get the hell out.

[ronhono]

Katg21
I see it doesn't bother you one bit to spill more American blood keeping the sides apart in this civil war. Terrorists could care less about a timetable - they'll just wait us out either way. They live there. We don't.

Seeing as how Vietnam is now at peace and trying to attract U.S. business and tourists, your analogy sounds fine to me. Yes, let's get the hell out.

[katg21]

Are you really that willing to sacrifice more soldiers trying to referee a civil war? If so, then you're the traitor. And, yes, the blood is on your hands and on those who so desperately wanted this oil war.
Posted by ronhono at 05:47 PM : Mar 29, 2007

Okay, so let's cut and run and let Vietnam happen all over again. The terrorists are just sitting back waiting for us to announce our time table.

[katg21]

DelRioWildca,

Well said and I agree.

[pattipace7]

WHEN OUR TROOPS DO COME HOME WE MUST HELP THEM. Here is a solution without raising everyone%u2019s taxes or rent. While politicians are fighting on the needed emergency funding for Veterans, a new type of DRAFT must be implemented Out of Patriotic duty, and the future of our economy, just 1/4 of the more affluent private medical/mental health facilities must use their office and expertise just a few hours a month for some of our young vets. By temporally picking up the slack for the grossly under funded,over booked and under staffed VAMCs, each of our young kids/veterans will have a chance to resume a comfortable life as a productive member of the society for which they offered to give up their own life to serve and protect. Even attorneys do pro-bono to help out society.Since WWI the medical field and drug companies have greatly benefited from the research they have done involving our veterans. A few months ago 60 minutes did a segment entitled A Pill To Forget? It was about the drug used for high blood pressure;Propranolol,which is believed can help to cure PTSD if prescribed off-label, can help the memory be erased.The story ended saying the military has provided funding to test this theory on veterans returning home from this war. It is time the private medical community return the favor and knowledge they have already received from our veterans. Too many veterans from past wars have ended up as just a number in a research project, helping society once again!

[pattipace7]

WHEN OUR TROOPS DO COME HOME WE MUST HELP THEM. Here is a solution without raising everyone%u2019s taxes or rent. While politicians are fighting on the needed emergency funding for Veterans, a new type of DRAFT must be implemented Out of Patriotic duty, and the future of our economy, just 1/4 of the more affluent private medical/mental health facilities must use their office and expertise just a few hours a month for some of our young vets. By temporally picking up the slack for the grossly under funded,over booked and under staffed VAMCs, each of our young kids/veterans will have a chance to resume a comfortable life as a productive member of the society for which they offered to give up their own life to serve and protect. Even attorneys do pro-bono to help out society.Since WWI the medical field and drug companies have greatly benefited from the research they have done involving our veterans. A few months ago 60 minutes did a segment entitled A Pill To Forget? It was about the drug used for high blood pressure;Propranolol,which is believed can help to cure PTSD if prescribed off-label, can help the memory be erased.The story ended saying the military has provided funding to test this theory on veterans returning home from this war. It is time the private medical community return the favor and knowledge they have already received from our veterans. Too many veterans from past wars have ended up as just a number in a research project, helping society once again!

[delriowildca]

Many military writers in addition to our experiences in the Philippines and other like conflicts, teach us that it is impossible to combat terrorism (insurgencies) with regular conscript troops. Our second major mistake is trying to control the situation in a mostly defensive posture.

The only way to fight insurgencies is with counter-insurgencies -- specialist forces such as Army Ranger and Navy Seal types. Being on the defensive, even with specialist forces, also is doomed to failure.

The war must be taken to the terrorists using small squads of specialist forces OPERATING AROUND THE CLOCK with Iraqi intelligence to rout out and exterminate these groups. It must be ongoing and non-stop until the job is completed using many, small squads.

Remember how these units successfully went into Mozul at the beginning of the "war" and neutralized the already entrenched forces of Saddam Hussein?

Eventually, after the country settles down to some acceptable level of normalcy, domestic Iraqi forces should be able to establish and maintain security.

Then we should get out!

[ronhono]

Katg21
Don't make assumptions about anyone's political affiliation.

Never accused the troops of anything. But the President and his entire cabinet have lied big time from day 1.

Are you really that willing to sacrifice more soldiers trying to referee a civil war? If so, then you're the traitor. And, yes, the blood is on your hands and on those who so desperately wanted this oil war.

[katg21]

The blood of our soldiers is already all over the hands of the people who sent them into a war based on lies, lies and more self-serving lies. And then conducting the war with breathtaking and deadly incompetence.
Posted by ronhono at 02:22 PM : Mar 29, 2007

You would prefer that we run from Iraq and abandon the Iraqis to murderers? Democrats and Republicans collectivly voted to send our troops to fight in this war and now you want to retreat like cowards. This shouldn't be about politics but you democraps keep making it so. You accuse our soldiers of being murderers and our president of being a liar. YOU are the enemy to America! If you want our soldiers home so bad then stop the *** and start supporting our country instead of your political aims.

[randalds]

singinrick: Are you a Bush idiot child, an insensitive jerk or just a dumb assed red neck with all the ha! ha's! and hehe's???? I don't think this war is remotely funny!

Posted by grumpas at 10:22 AM : Mar 29, 2007

He's all 3 and more. He's been washed and dried in the blood of the lamb...Bush. He's the worst kind of Bush supporter, a born-again, evangelical, true drinker of the kool-aid.

[ronhono]

The blood of our soldiers is already all over the hands of the people who sent them into a war based on lies, lies and more self-serving lies. And then conducting the war with breathtaking and deadly incompetence.

In their desperation, the neocons now resort to the cowardly ploy of blaming everyone/anyone except themselves. And the fanatic minority in our country will just follow these warped talking points and ramp up the noise machine in the media like they always do.

[azman80]

arty77, you need to get a life. You think you know whats going on. If your so for the killings ( we wont call it a war cause its not ) that why is your ignorant @ss not overseas assisting in the killings. If you only knew your history, politics, and the world around you and whats really going on, you would take your statements on this particular issue, swallow it, and ccrap it out on your plate and eat it again. Keep your ignorant mouth closed, and go back offline, dont come back on this site and share your stupidity with anyone here. Has anyone been to buzzflash.com yet?

[katg21]

What ever happened to our country leading with an iron fist? Just as Hannity has said, the "democraps own defeat" and I agree. We are handing ourselves over to Iran and the terrorists, letting them see that we are weak. We will be attacked again and I blame the "Axis of Idiots"; the democraps and the media. Your self-serving politics mean more to you than the lives of our soldiers and innocent Iraqis, more to you than our national security. You have no patriotism, all you care about is your political aims. Shame on you all and good luck getting the blood of our soldiers off your hands.

[down-ndirty]

edjoy74 "I find it very sad to see how BRAIN DEAD down-ndirty, RandalDS, masterballs2 and others are about reality. If you people could only see how sick you sound. If calling people names is the only way you can profess yourselves, then my first line fits you well. Otherwise, deal with the issues and stop the name calling."

edjoy, you've been reading too many of those childrens' books. I don't recall calling any posters names on this board, but if calling you names is how you "get off" then I can certainly dredge up some of my favorite name.

It does seem that you have employed the same tactics that you accuse us of. Typical repugnican ploy... You're just another one of those wealthy right-wing conservatives who would like to deny the freedom of speech to anyone who disagrees with you. LOL!!

If people who disagree with your views makes you sad then you must be one miserable puppy. Look at the polls dude! Not just the CBS polls!! A LOT of people disagree with you, dude! Get over it; don't be sad! It doesn't bother me that you disagree with me; why should it bother you!! LOL!!

[grumpas]

singinrick: Are you a Bush idiot child, an insensitive jerk or just a dumb assed red neck with all the ha! ha's! and hehe's???? I don't think this war is remotely funny! I don't imagine all the dead people think it was funny either! I doubt they were laughing when they were killed! I guess that pretty much says it all now doesn't it? The one's who support this war aren't taking any of the ramifications seriously! They seem to think it's some kind of a childish game they are playing in Iraq and everything is going to go back the way it was when they decide the game is over! At what point are people like you going to grow up and face the cold hard reality! This war was a mistake, it's a debacle, people are dying, and the damage we have done is astronomical! Not only to Iraq but to this country's reputation! Staying the coarse is only making the mess worse! If I had my way we would leave tomorrow but a timetable is better than nothing!