Most Americans back Iraq pullout timetable

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Six out of 10 Americans support setting a timetable for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq, even though a clear majority predict civil war there if U.S. forces withdraw next year, according to a poll published on Wednesday.

The USA Today/Gallup poll also found a majority of Americans expect terrorist attacks on the United States regardless of whether U.S. forces pull out in 2008.

The poll results "underscore the limited traction the Bush administration's arguments have gotten as White House officials and congressional Democrats negotiate an interim bill to finance the war," USA Today said.

Last week, President George W. Bush vetoed a $124 billion (62 billion pound) war funding bill because it called for a phased withdrawal of combat troops starting no later than October 1.

"Six in 10 support setting a timetable for withdrawal and sticking to it regardless of what's happening in Iraq," USA Today said. Thirty-six percent said U.S. troops should stay until the situation in Iraq improved.

Only 22 percent of those polled agreed with the administration argument that U.S. forces in Iraq are preventing new terrorist attacks on the United States, the paper said.

Seventeen percent said the U.S. deployment made a terrorist attack more likely, and 58 percent said it had no effect either way, it said.

"If U.S. troops withdraw next year, 68 percent predict a civil war in Iraq, 66 percent the use of Iraq as an al Qaeda base and 55 percent new terror attacks on the United States," USA Today said.

"If U.S. troops remain, 47 percent predict a civil war in Iraq, 47 percent the use of Iraq as an al Qaeda base and 51 percent new terror attacks on the United States."