A majority of Americans now says the US-led invasion was a mistake for the first time since the start of the war in Iraq, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll released last night.
Amid ongoing violence in Iraq and questions about the justification for the war, 54 per cent of the 1,005 Americans polled said it was a mistake to send US troops into Iraq, compared with 41 per cent who held that view three weeks ago.
The findings mark the first time since Vietnam that a majority of Americans has called a major deployment of US forces a mistake, USA Todayreported.
In addition, the poll found that for the first time a majority also said the war in Iraq has made the United States less safe from terrorism. Fifty-five per cent said the war has increased US vulnerability, compared to a December poll in which 56 per cent said the war made the US safer.
Despite Americans' changing attitudes toward the war, the poll found Mr Bush in a statistical dead heat with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. Among likely voters, Mr Bush edged out Mr Kerry 48 per cent to 47 per cent. Three weeks ago, Mr Kerry led 49 per cent to 43 per cent.
The war's original justification was to stop Iraq deploying weapons of mass destruction. None have been found.
President Bush has also said the Iraq mission would make America safer by bringing democracy to a key country in the Middle East.