Poll: U.S. military support for war falls

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Just over a third of military respondents approve of the president's management of the Iraq war, according to the Army Times newspaper group.

Only 35 percent of the servicemen and women polled this year said they approve of the way President George W. Bush is handling the war. Another 42 percent said they disapproved. The results show a significant drop in approval, down from 63 percent last year.

The respondents approved of Bush's job performance overall, however.

Only 41 percent of the military respondents said the United States should have gone to war in Iraq, down from 65 percent in 2003, according to the newspaper group.

About one-fifth of poll respondents believe large numbers of American forces can be withdrawn and replaced by Iraqi forces within the next two years. More than a third think the withdrawal and replacement will take more than five years. However, more than half expect the United States to have large numbers of troops in Iraq for more than five years.

Nearly half of the respondents believe more troops are needed in Iraq; 13 percent say all U.S. troops should be withdrawn.

The military Times newspaper group, owned by Gannett, has conducted the poll every year since 2003. It was conducted in November and December and is not scientific - respondents are voluntary rather than randomly selected.

The full results will be released Jan. 1.