Troops only add to Iraq's problem, say most Americans

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=FT&Date=20060315&ID=5578640

Troops?only?add?to Iraq's?problem,?say most Americans

Most Americans believe that US troops are provoking more violence than they are preventing in Iraq but only a quarter favour a rapid withdrawal of the soldiers, according to a broad survey of US opinion on the war released on Wednesday.

The poll was the latest to show that enthusiasm for the war had continued to wane but it indicated that the administration of President George W. Bush was not yet facing strong public pressure to bring all soldiers home.

"Most Americans have clearly given up on the idea that the operation in Iraq will have a Hollywood-style ending and are looking for a way out," said Steven Kull, the editor of WorldPublic­Opinion.org, which conducted the survey. "But they are also showing some patience and not demanding a hurried pull-out."

Two-thirds of Americans now say the war in Iraq was a war of choice and only about one-third still contend that invading Iraq was necessary, the best thing for the US to do and the best use of resources.