U.S. Public Supports Putting Iraq Operation Under U.N.:Operation Perceived As Not Going Well But Support for Staying Course Still Strong

Abstract

A strong majority of Americans would apparently support the president’s September 7 proposal to get U.N. backing and more international participation for the Iraq operation. According to a new PIPA/Knowledge Networks poll conducted August 26-September 3, 64 percent would even be willing to go further and put the operation under the United Nations, with joint decision-making, if other countries would contribute troops. An ABC poll conducted September 4-7 found 85 percent support for “supplementing U.S. troops in Iraq with troops from other countries to create a multilateral force,” and 55 percent support “if it meant U.S. troops in Iraq would be placed under the command of the United Nations.”