War On Terror Still Divisive

Washington, DC - A new Ipsos/McClatchy poll of Americans indicates that the War on Terror remains a divisive issue in American politics. A majority (57%) believe the United States can win the war on terror, although opinions are more divided regarding current success. The poll indicates that only a slim majority (54%) think the United States is winning the war on terror - nearly half (46%) believe the U.S. is not winning.

Iraq not as critical...

In fighting the war on terror, Americans currently believe that Iraq is not as critical as Afghanistan. Nearly six in ten Americans (57%) believe that Afghanistan is more critical in fighting the war on terror, compared to 43% who believe Iraq is more critical.

Few favor options that do not include gradual withdrawal of troops...

The poll also indicates a strong feeling that future options involving U.S. troops must include a gradual withdrawal. Only one third of Americans (34%) favor sending additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan while keeping the number of troops in Iraq at current levels. Similarly, leaving U.S. troops in Iraq until the whole country is secure, then redeploying them to Afghanistan is favored by only one in three Americans (30%).

Troop options including an element of gradual withdrawal are favored by a majority of Americans. Gradual withdrawal from Iraq and redeployment to Afghanistan is favored by a mere majority (51%). The option favored by most Americans is a gradual withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, and bringing the troops home - three quarters of Americans (74%) favor this option.

But bringing troops home is the clearest sentiment...

When asked to choose the option favored most regarding U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, a majority (57%) would opt to gradually withdraw U.S. forces and bring them home. This compares to the one in five (21%) who favor gradual redeployment to Afghanistan. Only one in ten (12%) would choose to send additional troops to Afghanistan while keeping the number of troops in Iraq at current levels. Similarly, only one in ten (10%) endorse keeping U.S. troops in Iraq until the whole country is secure, then redeploying them to Afghanistan.

Some Demographics...

Men (64%), those earning $50,000 or more per year (61%) and college degree-holders (71%) are more likely to report that Afghanistan is more critical in fighting the war on terror.

Men (56%), those age 55 or older (56%), and college degree-holders (62%) are more likely to favor gradually withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and redeploying them to Afghanistan.

Women (78%), those earning less than $50,000 a year (78%), and residents of the Northeast (80%) are more likely to favor gradually withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and bringing them home.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted September 17-19, 2008. For this survey, a national sample of 1009 adults aged 18 or older from Ipsos' U.S. online panel, are interviewed online. Weighting is then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual U.S. adult population according to census data and to provide results that are intended to approximate the sample universe. An unweighted probability sample of 1009 respondents, with a 100% response rate, has an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

For more information on this news release, please contact: Clifford Young, PhD Senior Vice President Ipsos Public Affairs (312) 375-3328 [email protected]

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