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John Daley reporting The perplexing situation in Iraq even has Utahns divided over the planned turnover of power to the Iraqis in June, along with U.S. troop strength.
That's according to an exclusive Survey USA poll hot off the presses for Eyewitness News.
According to this new poll, many Utahns are worried about stability in Iraq. And that may well be a factor leading many to wonder if the U.S. needs to increase the number of troops there.
News from Iraq in recent days gives Americans and Utahns watching back home a clear sign about just how complicated and difficult the task ahead will be.
Lloyd Steenblik/ Murray Resident: "I think many times we think there should be a five day solution to a problem, and there's not."
Virgil Feinauer/ Highland Resident: "Obviously the war's not really over. Even though it's been declared over, there's still a lot of violence going on."
The new KSL-TV poll conducted by Survey USA asked 500 Utahns if recent events in Iraq and elsewhere in the world affected their opinion about the U.S. military presence in Iraq.
Fifty-two percent said yes. Thirty-eight percent said no.
One woman, with a brother in the Army National Guard who recently returned from Iraq, says more troops are needed.
Tannia Olofson/ West Jordan Resident: "I believe we need more troops, absolutely. We need more numbers over there to help."
Forty-three percent of Utahns polled say the U.S. should increase the number of troops in Iraq, though half of those polled say we should either keep the numbers the same or decrease them.
Wayne Whitmarsh/ Draper Resident: "We need to go in there in kind of a strong-arm thing and get some business done."
Jan Dimmitt/ Kearns Resident: "If it means deploying more, yes. But let's rotate."
Meantime, many Utahns are wary of the turnover of power to the Iraqis on June 30th.
Only 18 percent say the hand over will make Iraq more stable, and 48 percent say it'll make Iraq less stable.
Virgil Feinauer/ Highland Resident: "I don't think they're ready to govern themselves as of now."
The bottom line here, as it always seems in Iraq, is that there are no easy answers.
