CBS Poll: Public Backs Iraq Timetable

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.

MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved

[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!