Most Americans against troop withdrawal

Most Americans believe withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq will make things worse in the Middle East nation.

A new Rasmussen Reports survey found just 20 percent believe troop withdrawal will make things better.

Republicans, by a 78 percent to 10 percent margin, say withdrawing troops from Iraq would make things worse.

Democrats are evenly divided, with 30 percent saying the troop withdrawal would make things better and 33 percent taking the opposite view.

TRENDING: Republicans move to replace GOP canvasser who voted to certify Biden win

Among American not affiliated with either major party, 49 percent say withdrawing troops now would make the situation worse.

The poll found Republicans overwhelmingly view the U.S. troops as a liberating army, while Democrats, by a 2-to-1 margin, see the U.S. forces as an occupying army.

Overall, 44 percent of Americans view the U.S. troops in Iraq as a liberating force while 35 percent say they are an occupying force.

Forty-seven percent of Americans say it's more important to get U.S. troops home than to "insure that Iraq becomes a peaceful nation enjoying the benefits of freedom and democracy."

Forty-three percent view finishing the mission as more important than bringing home the troops.

The Rasmussen survey found a gender gap on this question.

By a 50 percent to 42 percent margin, men say finishing the mission is more important. By a 51 percent to 38 percent margin, women say bringing the troops home is more important.

The poll also found 43 percent of Americans say the war in Iraq is part of the War on Terror. Conversely, 40 percent say Iraq is a distraction from the War on Terror.