Americans are slightly more optimistic about the progress of the war in Iraq even though most remain opposed to the conflict as it enters its sixth year, a new poll showed Thursday.
According to a survey carried out by CBS television, 43 percent of people think the war is going "somewhat well" compared to only 22 percent in June and 33 percent in September.
But some 54 percent are still against the war, the telephone poll of 1,067 people between 15 and 18 March showed. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
About 42 percent believed that the "surge" of additional troops ordered last year by President George W. Bush was having a positive effect on the situation, compared with 17 percent in June.
However, some 34 percent of people said the surge was not having any effect, while 13 percent said it was worsening the situation.
As the conflict entered its sixth year on Thursday, the poll showed that it remains deeply unpopular here with 59 percent of people believing the United States should not have intervened militarily in Iraq. Only 36 percent still agreed with the US-led invasion launched in March 2003.
Five years ago, seven out of 10 Americans supported the Bush administration's decision to go to war against the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Now almost half of those surveyed, some 46 percent, said they hoped to see US troops withdrawn from Iraq within a year, while 22 percent said the soldiers should be pulled out within one or two years.
Some 28 percent believed the US forces would need to stay longer than two years.
