July 3, 2014 - Iraq - Getting In Was Wrong; Getting Out Was Right, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll; 92 Percent Back Background Checks For All Gun Buys

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The 2003 war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do, American voters say 61 - 32 percent, and President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops in 2011 was the right thing to do, voters say 58 - 37 percent in a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today.





But voters disapprove 55 - 37 percent of the way President Obama is handling the situation in Iraq and disapprove 52 - 42 percent of the way he is handling the situation in Afghanistan, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.





The pace of U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan is "about right," 46 percent of voters say, while 26 percent say Obama is moving "too quickly" and 20 percent say "not quickly enough." Among voters in military households, 32 percent say "too quickly," as 19 percent say "not quickly enough" and 41 percent say "about right."





By a 51 - 27 percent margin, American voters blame former President George W. Bush, rather than Obama, for the situation in Iraq. Only 35 percent of voters, however, say Obama is better than Bush conducting foreign policy, while 39 percent say he is worse.





American voters oppose 63 - 29 percent, with opposition from all party, gender and age groups, sending U.S. ground troops back into Iraq. When asked about air strike options:

2 percent support the use of piloted aircraft;

20 percent support use of drones or cruise missiles, where American pilots are not at risk;

30 percent support using both options;

39 percent say there should be no U.S. airstrikes.

"By 2-1, American voters believe the Iraq War was a mistake and most say it was the fault of President George W. Bush, but President Barack Obama isn't exactly getting high marks for the way he has handled the two conflicts he inherited," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.





American voters say 56 - 39 percent that it is not in the U.S. national interest to get involved in Iraq. But a total of 72 percent of voters say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that if Islamic militants take over Iraq, "they would launch a terrorist attack against the U.S. in the near future."





Voters say 51 - 39 percent that the U.S. should not work with Iran to help the Iraqi government defeat Islamic militants.





The U.S. is doing too much around the world and it is time to do less internationally and focus more on domestic problems, American voters say 64 - 32 percent. Agreement is strong among all party, gender and age groups, ranging from 56 - 39 percent among Republicans to 76 - 22 percent among voters 18 to 29 years old. Gun Control





American voters support 92 - 7 percent, including 92 - 6 percent among gun owners, requiring background checks for all gun buyers. Support ranges from 86 - 11 percent among Republicans to 98 - 2 percent among Democrats.





Voters also support 89 - 9 percent laws to prevent people with mental illness from purchasing guns. Gun owners support this idea 91 - 7 percent.





But only 50 percent of voters support "stricter gun control laws," with 47 percent opposed.





"Americans are all in on stricter background checks on gun buyers and on keeping weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill," Malloy said. "But when it comes to 'stricter gun control,' three words which prompt a negative reflex, almost half of those surveyed say 'hands off.'"





Voters support 58 - 30 percent federal government actions to limit greenhouse gases from existing power plants to reduce global warming. Republicans are opposed 47 - 38 percent, while all other party, gender and age groups support such limits by wide margins.





From June 24 - 30, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,446 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.





For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter





49. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the situation in Iraq?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Approve 37% 12% 67% 31% 36% 37% 42% 42% 33% 34% Disapprove 55 82 25 60 58 53 55 49 59 57 DK/NA 8 6 8 9 6 9 3 9 7 9 Mltry HsHld Approve 31% Disapprove 64 DK/NA 6

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Iraq?

Jul 03 Nov 03 2014 2011 Approve 37 61 Disapprove 55 34 DK/NA 8 5

50. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the situation in Afghanistan?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Approve 42% 16% 72% 36% 43% 41% 42% 48% 41% 37% Disapprove 52 78 22 56 53 51 52 46 54 55 DK/NA 7 6 6 8 4 9 6 7 6 7 Mltry HsHld Approve 35% Disapprove 60 DK/NA 5

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan? (* Post Bin Laden Death)

APPROVE....... High Low Jul 03 Jul 11 Nov 03 Sep 01 Jul 14 May 05 Nov 18 2014 2013 2011 2011 2011 2011* 2009 Approve 42 46 50 43 50 59 38 Disapprove 52 45 41 47 42 30 49 DK/NA 7 9 9 10 8 10 12

51. Please tell me which of the following statements comes closer to your point of view: A) The United States is doing too much in other countries around the world, and it is time to do less around the world and focus more on our own problems here at home. B) The United States must continue to push forward to promote democracy and freedom in other countries around the world because these efforts make our own country more secure.

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ A) Focus on home 64% 56% 65% 67% 64% 64% 76% 64% 58% 61% B) Promote democracy 32 39 32 29 32 33 22 33 37 32 DK/NA 4 5 3 4 5 4 2 3 5 7 Mltry HsHld A) Focus on home 62% B) Promote democracy 35 DK/NA 3

58. Do you support or oppose stricter gun control laws in the United States?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Support 50% 24% 80% 44% 41% 58% 49% 54% 45% 52% Oppose 47 71 17 52 57 38 50 43 52 41 DK/NA 3 4 2 4 3 4 1 3 3 7 Gun HsHld Support 32% Oppose 65 DK/NA 3

TREND: Do you support or oppose stricter gun control laws in the United States?

Jul 03 Oct 02 Apr 04 Mar 07 Feb 07 Jul 17 2014 2013 2013 2013 2013 2008 Support 50 54 53 51 52 54 Oppose 47 41 42 42 43 40 DK/NA 3 5 4 7 5 5

59. Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Support 92% 86% 98% 92% 90% 94% 93% 91% 92% 93% Oppose 7 11 2 7 9 5 7 7 7 5 DK/NA 1 3 1 1 1 2 - 1 1 2 Gun HsHld Support 92% Oppose 6 DK/NA 1

TREND: Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?

Jul 03 Oct 02 Apr 04 Mar 07 Feb 07 2014 2013 2013 2013 2013 Support 92 89 91 88 92 Oppose 7 9 8 10 7 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1

60. Do you support or oppose laws to prevent people with mental illness from purchasing guns?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Support 89% 90% 91% 87% 89% 88% 89% 86% 90% 91% Oppose 9 8 8 10 9 9 11 13 6 7 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 2 - 1 3 2 Gun HsHld Support 91% Oppose 7 DK/NA 2

TREND: Do you support or oppose laws to prevent people with mental illness from purchasing guns?

Jul 03 Oct 02 2014 2013 Support 89 88 Oppose 9 9 DK/NA 2 3

61. In an effort to reduce global warming, do you think the federal government should limit the release of greenhouse gases from existing power plants, or don't you think so?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Yes 58% 38% 76% 58% 55% 60% 74% 64% 52% 46% No 30 47 13 32 36 24 21 24 37 35 DK/NA 13 15 11 10 9 16 5 12 12 19

62. Do you think Barack Obama has been better in conducting foreign policy than George W. Bush, worse, or about the same as George W. Bush?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Better 35% 6% 73% 26% 32% 38% 41% 41% 31% 29% Worse 39 75 6 39 42 36 26 33 44 44 About the same 25 17 19 34 25 25 30 25 24 23 DK/NA 2 2 1 1 2 2 3 1 1 3 Mltry HsHld Better 28% Worse 47 About the same 24 DK/NA 1

63. Do you think going to war with Iraq in 2003 was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Right thing 32% 56% 15% 29% 35% 29% 31% 31% 32% 32% Wrong thing 61 37 80 63 60 62 59 65 61 61 DK/NA 7 7 5 8 5 9 10 4 7 7 Mltry HsHld Right thing 39% Wrong thing 56 DK/NA 5

TREND: Do you think going to war with Iraq in 2003 was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing? (* in 2003)

RIGHT THING... High Low Jul 03 Nov 03 Mar 05 Nov 12 May 14 Sep 17 Jul 03 2014* 2011 2009 2008 2008 2003 2014* Right thing 32 36 36 36 33 58 32 Wrong thing 61 60 60 58 62 37 61 DK/NA 7 4 5 6 5 5 7

64. Do you think President Obama's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011 was the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Right thing 58% 30% 90% 52% 56% 60% 66% 64% 52% 54% Wrong thing 37 62 8 43 41 33 29 31 43 40 DK/NA 5 7 2 5 3 7 5 5 5 6 Mltry HsHld Right thing 52% Wrong thing 43 DK/NA 5

TREND: Do you think President Obama's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011 was the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do? (* by the end of the year)

Jul 03 Nov 03 2014 2011* Right thing 58 74 Wrong thing 37 21 DK/NA 5 5

65. Do you support or oppose the U.S. sending ground troops back into Iraq to help the Iraqi government defeat Islamic militants?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Support 29% 34% 22% 32% 33% 25% 40% 34% 28% 17% Oppose 63 56 70 62 62 64 52 58 65 76 DK/NA 8 11 8 6 5 10 8 8 7 7 Mltry HsHld Support 28% Oppose 67 DK/NA 5

66. Do you think the U.S. should launch airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq using piloted aircraft, or launch airstrikes that do not put U.S. lives at risk, such as drones or cruise missiles, or a combination of both piloted aircraft and drones or cruise missiles, or should the U.S. not launch airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Piloted aircraft 2% 1% 2% 2% 2% 2% - 2% 2% 1% Drones/Cruise mssls 20 20 24 18 18 22 13 22 22 20 Both 30 42 17 32 41 20 29 29 33 27 No airstrikes 39 26 48 41 35 43 56 36 35 39 DK/NA 9 12 9 7 5 13 2 11 8 12 Mltry HsHld Piloted aircraft 2% Drones/Cruise mssls 17 Both 36 No airstrikes 38 DK/NA 7

67. Who do you blame more for the situation in Iraq, President Obama or former President George W. Bush?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Obama 27% 54% 5% 26% 32% 23% 20% 20% 31% 36% Bush 51 20 81 52 48 54 61 60 48 39 NEITHER (VOL) 11 14 7 12 11 11 9 12 12 11 BOTH (VOL) 5 7 2 5 4 6 4 5 5 6 DK/NA 5 6 4 5 4 6 6 4 4 8 Mltry HsHld Obama 32% Bush 44 NEITHER (VOL) 15 BOTH (VOL) 5 DK/NA 4

68. Do you think it is in the national interest of the United States to be involved in the conflict in Iraq, or not?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Yes 39% 48% 31% 38% 46% 32% 31% 45% 43% 34% No 56 43 63 58 49 61 66 52 52 57 DK/NA 6 9 6 4 5 7 4 4 5 9 Mltry HsHld Yes 41% No 53 DK/NA 5

69. Do you think the U.S. should or should not work with Iran to help the Iraqi government defeat Islamic militants?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Should 39% 33% 44% 42% 41% 37% 44% 40% 41% 34% Should not 51 58 45 50 55 48 51 53 50 51 DK/NA 9 9 11 8 4 14 5 7 9 14 Mltry HsHld Should 33% Should not 60 DK/NA 7

70. If Islamic militants take over Iraq, how likely do you think it is that they would launch a terrorist attack against the U.S. in the near future; very likely, somewhat likely, not so likely, or not likely at all?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Very likely 37% 51% 24% 39% 37% 37% 26% 35% 42% 38% Smwht likely 35 34 36 34 32 37 35 33 37 35 Not so likely 16 7 22 17 16 15 22 19 11 15 Not likely at all 8 4 11 8 11 5 9 8 6 8 DK/NA 5 5 7 3 3 6 7 5 3 5 Mltry HsHld Very likely 39% Smwht likely 31 Not so likely 17 Not likely at all 10 DK/NA 3

71. From what you've read and heard, do you think Barack Obama is removing U.S. troops from Afghanistan too quickly, not quickly enough, or is he handling this about right?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Too quickly 26% 49% 5% 28% 31% 22% 17% 23% 31% 30% Not quickly enough 20 15 23 21 17 22 25 22 17 17 About right 46 25 66 44 45 46 53 46 46 41 DK/NA 8 11 5 7 6 10 5 8 6 11 Mltry HsHld Too quickly 32% Not quickly enough 19 About right 41 DK/NA 7

72. Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama administration releasing five Taliban prisoners in exchange for the Taliban releasing U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl?

AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Approve 37% 17% 61% 30% 38% 35% 51% 43% 28% 30% Disapprove 54 77 27 61 56 53 38 47 65 60 DK/NA 9 7 12 9 5 12 11 10 6 10 Mltry HsHld Approve 33% Disapprove 61 DK/NA 6

73. Do you approve or disapprove of President Obama's decision to hold a press conference with Bowe Bergdahl's parents?