Poll says a majority in the U.S. expects Iraq civil war

WASHINGTON — An overwhelming majority of the public believes fighting between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq will lead to civil war, and half say the United States should begin withdrawing its forces from that violence-torn country, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey found that 80 percent believe that recent sectarian violence makes civil war in Iraq likely, and more than a third say such a conflict is "very likely" to occur. These expectations extend beyond party lines: More than seven in 10 Republicans and eight in 10 Democrats and political independents say they believe such a conflict is coming.

In the face of continuing violence, half — 52 percent — of those surveyed said the United States should begin withdrawing forces. One in six favor immediate withdrawal of all troops, however, while about one-third prefer a more gradual return.

The survey also found growing doubt that the Bush administration has a strategy in Iraq. Two-thirds of those interviewed said they do not think the president has a clear plan for handling the Iraq situation, the highest level of doubt recorded since the question was first asked three years ago. But an even larger share — 70 percent — question whether Democrats in Congress have a plan for dealing with Iraq, suggesting Americans see neither party as offering a coherent exit strategy.

The survey highlights how support for the war in Iraq dissolved since the first months after the U.S. invasion. At the end of 2003, nearly six in 10 — 59 percent — said the conflict was worth the cost; today, 42 percent share that view. In the past nine months, the proportion in Post-ABC polls who say the United States should begin withdrawing its troops has increased from 38 percent to a 52-percent majority.

Recent U.S. reversals in Iraq have not dramatically reduced overall support for Bush, in contrast to some other national polls. The president's overall job approval rating stood at 41 percent, essentially unchanged from January. Nearly six in 10 disapproved of his job performance, the 11th consecutive survey since April in which at least half the country was critical of Bush's leadership.

In only one area — terrorism — does more than half of the public see Bush positively, and even here 52 percent approve, while 46 percent disapprove. On every other issue tested in the poll — including the economy, international affairs and health care — Bush received negative marks.

Americans also expressed disappointment with Congress, which is now controlled by Republicans. Slightly more than a third — 36 percent — said they approve of the way Congress is doing its job, down 7 percentage points in the past five weeks and the lowest marks for Congress since October 1997.

But the survey showed Democrats slipping, too. Asked which party they trust to deal with the country's biggest problems, 42 percent said Democratic, while 40 percent said the GOP. Barely five weeks ago, Democrats held a 14-percentage point advantage.

The public continues to fault the administration's performance in Iraq. Well under half — 40 percent — think Bush is doing a good job there, unchanged from late January but still down 6 points from December. Nearly six in 10 — 57 percent — said the war was not worth fighting, marking the 12th consecutive poll since December 2004 in which a majority of Americans said invading Iraq was a mistake.

The new survey reflected a sharp decline in optimism, perhaps sparked by the sectarian violence that has flared in Iraq after the bombings of a revered Shiite mosque two weeks ago.