A military Hill friend e-mails:

There were some interesting points in Gallup’s release this week of their poll on Iraq. For example: This poll showed the “most positive assessment to date” of the effects of the surge. This assessment was consistent among both Republicans and independents“According to the poll, 43% of Americans say the surge of U.S. troops in Iraq is making the situation there better, a slight increase from 40% in late November, but up more substantially from 34% in early November. This is the most positive review of the surge Gallup has measured since it began.” Assessment of the efficacy of the surge seems to inform respondents’ positions on timetables for withdrawal: those who believe the surge is working are “solidly against” a timetable for withdrawal“Americans who do not assess the surge positively overwhelmingly advocate a timetable…Meanwhile, Americans who believe the surge is working are solidly against (70%) a timetable.”
There has been a slight decrease since last fall among those who believe that the U.S. should “set timetable for withdrawal and stick to it” (now at 56, down from 60 in September); more people now say that the U.S. should “keep troops until situation gets better” (39 percent)Most Americans are against an immediate and rapid withdrawal from Iraq. Even among those who prefer a timetable, two thirds believe it should be “gradual” and only 18 percent believe it should be “as rapidly as possible”“All told, 18% of Americans favor removing troops from Iraq as rapidly as possible.”
Despite projections to the contrary, the Iraq positions of the presidential candidates don’t lead to a stronger position for Democrats among respondents“Both Democratic presidential candidates, Obama and Hillary Clinton, favor a timetable, while the GOP’s likely nominee, John McCain, strongly opposes one. Obama is advocating a fairly rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, which would have all troops out within 16 months of his taking office. Clinton favors a slower withdrawal, which would be complete by 2013. Thus, no candidate’s position really represents the views of most Americans, but the poll suggests that currently McCain’s and Clinton’s positions are closest to the largest number of Americans. This is not to suggest that Americans would necessarily oppose any of the candidates’ Iraq policies should they be elected president.”