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Harry Hope · Guest

http://www.galluppoll.com/content/default.aspx?ci=27724

May 31, 2007

What Would Americans Tell President Bush to Do About Iraq?

Majority would tell president to bring troops home from Iraq or
develop exit strategy

by Frank Newport

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ --

What would Americans say to President Bush if they could talk to him
about the situation in Iraq for 15 minutes?

The majority of Americans -- if they could literally file through the
Oval Office and talk to the man they elected to be the top executive
and commander in chief of the country -- would tell President Bush to
focus on developing an exit strategy from Iraq and removing U.S.
troops from that country.

A smaller group of one in four would tell the president to stay the
course or even to be more aggressive in Iraq.

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Bottom Line

The majority of Americans, as measured in a number of Gallup Poll
surveys this year, believe the initial decision for the United States
to become involved in Iraq was a mistake.

Research also shows a majority of Americans favor a timetable for
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

It is not surprising, therefore, to find that Americans -- if given
the chance to talk with President Bush about Iraq -- would be most
likely to tell him to figure out a way to withdraw U.S. troops from
there.

The president maintains the loyalty of a smaller group of Americans --
one in four -- who are supportive of his current actions or would even
want him to be more aggressive.

The administration argues that the war in Iraq is a necessary part of
the war on terror, and that it is imperative to succeed.

The president and members of his administration have said repeatedly
that any type of discussion of withdrawal or the setting of a
timetable is unacceptable at this time and would be tantamount to
failure.

These arguments notwithstanding, however, the majority of the American
public would instruct their president to focus on withdrawal of troops
and the development of an exit strategy.

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Harry