Poll: American Opinion Shifts on Iraq War

Back in 2003 when the Harris Organization first asked the American public about their opinion on the war in Iraq, 55% were of the opinion that it was a good thing to take military action against Iraq. And 32% had the opposite opinion. This time around they asked the respondents what their opinion was back then and 46% said that their opinion back then was that it was the right thing to do and 39% said their first impression had been that it was the wrong thing to do.

If you take a look at what the public thinks now about whether or not taking military action back then was the right thing to do, 35% say it was and 46% say it was not.

When they asked the respondents how they think the war is progressing at the present time, 20% said it was getting better, 42% said it was getting worse and a little under 33% say that there has been no change.

This has not changed all that much since the last poll on this subject was taken in May of this year, when 18% said that things were getting better and 46% believed that things were getting worse.

Next they explored the views of Americans on the casualties from the war then and now and back in July of 2003, 51% of Americans were of the belief that the level of casualties that the American troops were suffering was unfortunate but at the same time acceptable and 43% said the level was unacceptable. When asked that same question today, the figures are very different with just 33% saying they are unfortunate but acceptable and 60% saying they are unacceptable.

The next question is one that is being talked about by all of the Presidential Candidates and that is the question of whether or not the troops should remain in Iraq and there is a drastic change of opinion today from the thoughts of the people back in 2003. In May of that year, 45% wanted the troops to stay in Iraq, whether or not most people there want them to stay, 31% thought they should stay only if most people there want them to and 12% wanted the troops to come home then and there.