A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 59% of Americans would like to see U.S. troops brought home from Iraq within a year. That number is down four points from two weeks ago and two points from four weeks ago. Over the last twenty-three weeks, the number wanting troops home within a year has ranged from a low of 57% to a high of 64%.

Twenty-three percent (23%) now want the troops brought home immediately. That number is down six points from the last survey.

Looking at the other end of the spectrum, 35% want troops to remain in Iraq until the mission is complete. That is up three points from two weeks ago. The number of Americans who want the troops to remain and finish the mission has ranged from 32% to 39% since tracking began.

The desire to bring home the troops has declined slightly among both men and women. Fifty-five percent (55%) of men want the troops home within a year, down six-points from two weeks ago. Sixty-two percent (62%) of women want to see the troops brought home within a year. That’s down from 66% two weeks ago.

On the other side, 41% of men would like the troops to stay in Iraq until the mission is complete. That number is up seven points from the last survey. Thirty percent (30%) of women think the troops should stay until the mission is complete.

Just 8% of GOP voters want to see the troops brought home immediately, while 26% want to see the troops brought home within the year. The majority (62%) of Republicans want to see the troops stay in Iraq until the mission is complete. Among Democrats, 81% would like to see the troops brought home within a year, while just 14% think they should stay in Iraq.

In the beginning of March, almost half (46%) of Likely Voters believe the U.S. and its allies are winning the War on Terror. Twenty-two percent (22%) disagree and say the terrorists are winning.

Rasmussen Reports has been tracking this question weekly since late August. The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.

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