War is Over? Public Opinion on the US Involvement in Iraq Following the End of Combat Operations

On August 31, 2010, President Obama declared an end to the long and costly "Operation Iraqi Freedom." Although the presidential address was in part intended as an announcement towards ending the Iraq War, it specifically denoted the official end of the US combat mission in Iraq, leaving 58,000 U.S. troops in an "advise and assist" role to aid Iraqi forces. Using public opinion survey data, this paper examines public opinion on the continued US presence in Iraq since the end of combat operations. Specifically, I explore whether political information affects people's level of support for continued US involvement in Iraq to help with the rebuilding effort, as well as in trying to maintain stability and increase security. I also tackle the question of whether the US public might be supportive of the US troops reverting back to combat mode in Iraq should civil war breaks out