---
title: "War in Iraq: Six Years and a New President Later"
description: "The public overwhelmingly supports (76%) President Obama's plan to remove most combat troops from Iraq by the end of August."
date: "2009-03-19"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2009/03/19/war-in-iraq-six-years-and-a-new-president-later/"
---

# War in Iraq: Six Years and a New President Later

The Iraq war — launched six years ago this week — has [divided the public](/pubs/770/iraq-war-five-year-anniversary) for most of its duration, but as a new administration announces a change in course an overwhelming majority of Americans agree with plans to remove most combat troops by the end of August. By a 76%-to-18% margin, Americans support President Obama’s troop-removal plan in Iraq.Democrats nearly unanimously approve of the plan (94%), but so do a large number of independents (77%) and even half of Republicans (50%). In a January 2009 survey, Americans were more positive about the war (59% said things were going well compared with 36% saying the war was not going well) but were still split on whether using military force against Iraq was the right (43%) or wrong (49%) decision. By comparison, there is more division over the administrations’ plans for Afghanistan. A narrower majority (53%) support Obama’s plan to send 17,000 more troops to that country. On this question, Republicans voice the most support (63%) and Democrats the least (49%). [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1153/obama-job-approval-economic-policy-views-divided-iraq-afghanistan)