WASHINGTON - Americans are skeptical about the turnover of political control to Iraqis at a time the country has not been stabilized, according to a poll released Monday.
By a 2-1 margin, Americans say the turnover of political control to Iraqis now is not a sign of success, but a sign of failure because the nation's stability remains in question, according to a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll. Still, three-fourths in the poll approved of the U.S. handover of authority to Iraqis.
The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq (news - web sites) transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government Monday — two days early.
In the Gallup poll, six in 10 said the handover of authority at such an unstable point is a sign of failure, while about three in 10, 32 percent, said the handover of authority on schedule is a sign of success, according to the Gallup poll taken last week.
Six in 10 said they think it is unlikely internal security will be established in Iraq in the next five years and slightly more, 63 percent, said they think U.S. troops will be in Iraq for another three years or more.
Americans would prefer a shorter time for U.S. military presence. Seven in 10 said the United States should have a significant number of troops in Iraq two years or less.
The Gallup poll found that despite their doubts, a majority, 54 percent, had hopes the transfer of authority to the Iraqis could improve the situation in that country.
Public opinion about Iraq has been slipping in recent weeks.
Last week, a majority said for the first time in a Gallup poll that the United States made a mistake in its decision to send troops to Iraq. And more than half said the war in Iraq has made this country less safe from terrorism.
The Gallup poll of 1,005 adults was taken June 21-23 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
___
Associated Press
By a 2-1 margin, Americans say the turnover of political control to Iraqis now is not a sign of success, but a sign of failure because the nation's stability remains in question, according to a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll. Still, three-fourths in the poll approved of the U.S. handover of authority to Iraqis.
The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq (news - web sites) transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government Monday — two days early.
In the Gallup poll, six in 10 said the handover of authority at such an unstable point is a sign of failure, while about three in 10, 32 percent, said the handover of authority on schedule is a sign of success, according to the Gallup poll taken last week.
Six in 10 said they think it is unlikely internal security will be established in Iraq in the next five years and slightly more, 63 percent, said they think U.S. troops will be in Iraq for another three years or more.
Americans would prefer a shorter time for U.S. military presence. Seven in 10 said the United States should have a significant number of troops in Iraq two years or less.
The Gallup poll found that despite their doubts, a majority, 54 percent, had hopes the transfer of authority to the Iraqis could improve the situation in that country.
Public opinion about Iraq has been slipping in recent weeks.
Last week, a majority said for the first time in a Gallup poll that the United States made a mistake in its decision to send troops to Iraq. And more than half said the war in Iraq has made this country less safe from terrorism.
The Gallup poll of 1,005 adults was taken June 21-23 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
___
Associated Press
