More Americans believe that contracts to rebuild Iraq are awarded to politically well-connected firms than to the best-qualified companies, according to a survey released Sunday.
Some 44 percent of the 1,004 adults surveyed said the lucrative contracts go to companies with ties to President George W. Bush or his Republican Party, as opposed to 40 percent who said the best companies for the job are selected.
The poll for Time magazine and CNN television found 60 percent of Republicans believe the best companies are picked, while a similar percentage of Democrats believe the politically well-connected are chosen.
The US Defence Department announced Wednesday it had stripped energy giant Halliburton of a contract to supply fuel to the US military in Iraq, amid claims the company had inflated prices.
Halliburton, which used to be run by Vice President Dick Cheney, has strongly denied the allegations. An investigation into the accounts is still being carried out.
A majority of Americans still support the war in Iraq, in larger numbers since the capture of Saddam Hussein. Some 59 percent said they approved of US military policy Iraq, up nine points since November.
And 43 percent believe the war has been successful, up from 25 percent in November.
The survey also found that 42 percent of respondents believe that US forces in Iraq should be withdrawn or reduced, against 18 percent who wanted them increased and 35 percent who believed they should remain at current levels.
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