AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE,
Washington: A wide-ranging poll of US troops serving in Iraq made public Tuesday found that 72 percent believe the United States should exit Iraq within a year. At the same time, 53 percent of the respondents said the number of US troops and bombing missions should be doubled to control the insurgency, according to the poll results.
Le Moyne College and Zogby International conducted the survey at several locations inside Iraq, polling 944 soldiers in face-to-face encounters. The pollsters said the survey had a margin of error of 3.3 percent.
It found that only 23 percent of those surveyed believe that US troops should stay in Iraq “as long as it takes,” President George W. Bush's formulation for how long US forces will remain in the country.
In contrast, 29 percent of the respondents said US troops should leave immediately, 22 percent within six months, and 21 percent within six months to a year.
Support for an exit within a year was highest among reserve and national guard troops — 89 and 82 percent respectively. It was lower among regular army troops (70 percent) and lowest among marines (58 percent).
The poll found that 58 percent of the respondents said the US mission in Iraq is clear in their minds, while 42 percent said it was somewhat or very unclear or that they were unsure or did not understand the mission at all.
An overwhelming majority (85 percent) said the main US mission was “to retaliate for Saddam's role in the 9/11 attacks.”
Another major reason for the war cited by 77 percent of the respondents was “to stop Saddam from protecting Al-Qaeda in Iraq.”
Just 24 percent said that “establishing a democracy that can be a model for the Arab world” was the main or a major reason for the war.
Few saw the mission as securing oil supplies (11 percent) or to provide long-term bases for US troops in the region (six percent).
Ninety-three percent said that removing weapons of mass destruction was not a reason for the US military presence in Iraq.
Asked why some Americans back home favor a rapid withdrawal from Iraq, 38 percent said it was because they were unpatriotic while 20 percent said it was because they did not think continued occupation would work.
Sixteen percent said those Americans who favored an early exit opposed the use of the US military for a pre-emptive war, while 15 percent said it was because they did not understand the need for US troops in Iraq.
Three quarters of those surveyed were on their second or third tour of Iraq.
More than 80 percent of the respondents said they did not have a negative view of Iraqis because of insurgent attacks.
Four in five said they oppose the use of such internationally banned weapons as napalm and white phosphorous.
And 55 percent said harsh and threatening interrogation of prisoners to gain information of military value was not appropriate or standard military conduct.
