Half of America's voters expect the situation in Iraq to get worse during the coming months. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that just 30% expect things to get better.

Most Republicans say the situation in Iraq will get better while 72% of Democrats say it will get worse. Demographics are available for RR Premium Members.

The survey also found that just 31% believe that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should resign following news of Iraqi prisoner abuse. Most Americans (55%) believe Rumsfeld should stay.

Still, American voters want accountability for the scandal that has embarrassed our nation. Fifty-six percent (56%) of American voters want the soldiers involved to be court-martialed. This perspective cuts across demographic, partisan, and ideological lines.

Just 26% say those involved should not be court-martialed.

The desire for accountability comes even though a plurality of voters believes those involved were simply following orders. Forty percent (40%) of voters hold this view while nearly as many, 34%, believe the soldiers were acting on their own.

Republicans and conservatives tend to believe that the soldiers acted on their own. Others tend to believe that they were following orders.