June 28 (Bloomberg) -- About a third of Americans say they think the U.S. and its allies are winning the war against insurgents in Iraq, the lowest level yet, according to a poll by Gallup for USA Today and Cable News Network.

More than half of Americans say the war in Iraq was a mistake, almost half think the war has made them less safe from terrorism, and nine out of 20 say they think the U.S. won't ever be able to establish a stable government in the middle eastern nation, according to poll data published on the Gallup Web site. More than half said the U.S. should set a timetable for removing its troops from the country.

The poll comes as U.S. President George W. Bush, under pressure from public opinion, prepares to deliver a speech today aimed at making the case for his Iraq policy.

Just 34 percent of Americans say they think the coalition is winning the war against an insurgency whose attacks have claimed more than 1,000 lives since Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari on April 28 named members of his cabinet. That's down from 43 percent in February, and the lowest out of four times the question has been asked since October.

Gallup polled 1,009 adults by telephone between June 24 and June 26. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 28, 2005 06:59 EDT