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Monday, Mar 18, 2013 1:08 PM UTC

Poll: Majority see Iraq War as a mistake

Ten years later, 53 percent say the U.S. should not have invaded Iraq

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Topics: Polling, Iraq war, George W. Bush, Baghdad, Saddam Hussein,

Poll: Majority see Iraq War as a mistakeBaghdad, Iraq. (Credit: AP)

A new Gallup poll finds that on the tenth anniversary of the Iraq War, the majority of those surveyed see the invastion as a mistake. 53 percent said the U.S. ”made a mistake sending troops to fight in Iraq,” while 42 percent said it was not a mistake.

Americans’ negative view of the war reached its high point in 2008, when 63 percent said it was a mistake.

From Gallup:

Americans initially supported the war, with substantial majorities in 2003 saying the U.S. decision to get involved in Iraq was not a mistake. However, attitudes changed relatively quickly, and by the summer of 2004, a majority of Americans called the war a mistake.

Opinions fluctuated somewhat thereafter but, with one exception, since August 2005, a majority has said the war was a mistake each time Gallup has asked the question — and at several points, more than 60% said so. The last time Gallup asked this question, in August 2010, 55% called the war a mistake.

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.

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