Iraqis Overwhelmingly Demand U.S. Troops Withdraw Within One Year

Think Progress
Nov. 22, 2006

In a September 19 speech to the United Nations, President Bush had a message for the Iraqi people:

To the people of Iraq: Nearly 12 million of you braved the car bombers and assassins last December to vote in free elections. The world saw you hold up purple ink-stained fingers, and your courage filled us with admiration. You’ve stood firm in the face of horrendous acts of terror and sectarian violence — and we will not abandon you in your struggle to build a free nation.

In a recent poll by WorldOpinion.org, the Iraqi people had a message for President Bush — they’d like to be abandoned and fairly quickly:

In sum, “Seven out of ten Iraqis overall–including both the Shia majority (74%) and the Sunni minority (91%)–say they want the United States to leave within a year.” Note: less than 10% of Iraqis nationwide support a U.S. withdrawal only as “the security situation improves,” the current policy of the Bush administration.