[iwar] [fc:Poll.on.US.Policies.to.Middle.East]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2001-10-06 21:35:05
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From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net>
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Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2001 21:35:05 -0700 (PDT)
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Newsweek Poll: Majorities See Policies Toward Israel, Palestine As
Major Motivation For Attacks On U.S., But Reject Reducing Israeli
Ties; Doubt It
Would Reduce Terrorist Acts
Public Split On Whether Or Not To Reconsider Mideast Policies;
Divided On Impact Of Endorsing Palestinian State
Patience On Military Action Edges Down; Majority Backs Economic Plan
NEW YORK, Oct. 6 -- Fifty-eight percent of Americans polled see the
United States' ties to Israel and U.S. policies toward the Palestinian
situation as a major motivation for the terrorists who have targeted
the U.S., according to the latest Newsweek Poll, but that figure is
down from 68 percent last month. And the number of Americans who
oppose reducing U.S. ties to Israel to lower the threat of terrorism
has risen to 61 percent; 63 percent doubt such action would actually
reduce terrorist acts against the U.S., the poll shows.
Also seen as major motivation for terrorists are U.S. military and
economic power in general (by 62% of those polled); the U.S. role in
the Gulf War and continued military presence in the Persian Gulf
(47%); economic hardship in the Muslim world created by western
capitalism (39%); and resentment of U.S. culture (28%).
Still, those polled are almost evenly split on whether the U.S. should
consider changing its policies in the Middle East to try to reduce the
violent backlash against it (46% yes; 43% no). A 60-percent majority
opposes dropping economic sanctions against Iraq. But majorities
aren't happy about the amount of foreign aid the U.S. gives to several
countries in the region. Fifty-two percent say the $2.8 billion in aid
the U.S. gave to Israel last year was too much; 55 percent say the
$2.2 billion the U.S. gave to Egypt was too much and 56 percent say
the $80 million given to the Palestinian Authority was too much, the
poll shows.
President George W. Bush continues to get high marks for his handling
of the situation resulting from the attacks -- 88 percent approve, the
same as one week ago in the Newsweek Poll -- and his job approval
rating is 84 percent, nearly the same as one week ago. But the public
still has more confidence in Secretary of State Colin Powell to deal
with the situation (75%) than Bush (65%) or Vice President Dick Cheney
(50%), the poll shows.
Just 55 percent now say the U.S. should take as long as necessary to
plan military action in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11,
down from 63 percent a week ago in the Newsweek Poll. And there was an
increase in the number who say military action should have already
started: 24 percent, up from 18 percent one week ago, the poll shows.
Seventy-nine percent say another terrorist attack on the United States
is at least somewhat likely (39% say very likely, up from 33 percent
one week ago in the poll).
Fifty-seven percent of Americans polled say President Bush's proposed
package of tax cuts and additional government spending to stimulate
the economy is about right; 21 percent say it goes too far; 14 percent
say it's not enough. A 78-percent majority of those polled say the
Democrats in Congress have taken appropriate actions in the past month
regarding Bush and his policies; 10 percent say they've been too quick
to support the president and just six percent say they've been too
quick to oppose him.
The public is divided in its opinion on the impact of the U.S.
endorsing the idea of a Palestinian State, the poll shows. Thirty-nine
percent say, at this time, the U.S. should not favor creating a
Palestinian State, while 33 percent say it should. Forty-three percent
say if the U.S. endorses a Palestinian State, it would make no
difference in the effort to build a coalition to fight terrorism; 35
percent say such an endorsement would help fight terrorism and 11
percent say it would hurt the fight, the poll shows. Twenty-nine
percent say the endorsement would hurt Israel, but 34 percent say it
would make no difference to that country; just 24 percent say it would
help Israel. Thirty-two percent say it would make no difference to the
Palestinian people; 38 percent say it would help them. And a
47-percent plurality say it wouldn't make a difference in the peace
effort in the Middle East.
A 59-percent majority say it is very important that other Arab
countries formally recognize Israel's right to exist as an independent
state as Egypt and Jordan have done, the poll shows. Another 27
percent say it is somewhat important.
Fifty-eight percent of those polled say moderate Muslim leaders from
other countries have failed to do enough to support the U.S. and
oppose terrorism since the Sept. 11 attacks; 58 percent say the same
about Saudi Arabia. Forty-three percent say the same for Muslim
leaders in the U.S. and 42 percent say so for religious leaders in
other countries who are not Muslim, the poll shows. But 53 percent say
the NATO countries in Europe have done enough, the poll shows.
For this Newsweek Poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates
interviewed by telephone 1,002 adults aged 18 and older on October
4-5, 2001. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
This Newsweek Poll is part of the October 15 issue of Newsweek (on
newsstands Monday, October 8).
(Poll attached. Read Newsweek's news releases at
<a href="http://www.Newsweek.MSNBC.com">http://www.Newsweek.MSNBC.com>. Click "Pressroom.")
The Roots of Terror
Princeton Survey Research Associates
FINAL Topline Results
(10/6/01)
N= 1,002 Adults, 18 and over
Margin of error: plus or minus 3 percentage points
Interviewing dates: 10/4-5/2001
NOTE: An asterisk (*) indicates a value of less than one percent
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling
his
job as president?
Approve Disapprove DK
Current 84 11 5 =100
Trends
(9/27-9/28/01) 86 9 5 =100
(9/20-9/21/01) 86 10 4 =100
(9/13-9/14/01) 82 11 7 =100
(8/25-9/5/01)** 51 34 15 =100
(8/2-8/01)** 50 32 18 =100
(7/2-12/01)** 51 32 17 =100
(6/13-17/01) 50 33 17 =100
(5/10-11/01) 50 31 19 =100
(5/3-4/01) 57 30 13 =100
(4/12-13/01) 57 28 15 =100
(3/15-16/01) 55 30 15 =100
(2/15-16/01) 56 21 23 =100
(2/8-9/01) 52 25 23 =100
HIGHEST APPROVAL RATINGS FOR PAST PRESIDENTS
Bush, Sr. - Gulf War Victory
(3/91) 89 8 3 =100
Truman - V-E Day
(6/45) 87 3 10 =100
Roosevelt - Pearl Harbor
(1/42) 84 9 7 =100
Kennedy - Bay of Pigs Invasion
(5/61) 83 5 12 =100
**NOTE: Bush approval trends for June-early September 2001 from Pew
Research Center.
***NOTE: Bush, Sr. approval trends from Newsweek poll. All other
approval
ratings for past presidents from Gallup poll. Only presidents who
achieved an approval rating over 80% are included.
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush has handled
the situation resulting from the terrorist attacks in New York City
and
Washington, D.C.?
Current 9/27-28/01 9/20-21/01 9/13-14/01
88 Approve 88 88 89
9 Disapprove 7 7 8
3 Don't know 5 5 3
100 100 100 100
3. In your opinion, how likely is it that more terrorist attacks will
be carried out against major U.S. cities, buildings or national
landmarks
in the near future? Is it...(READ)
Current 9/27-28/01 9/21/01 9/13-14/01
39 Very likely 33 41 43
40 Somewhat likely 46 41 39
13 Not too likely 14 11 12
4 Not at all likely 4 4 3
4 Don't know 3 3 3
100 100 100 100
4. In your opinion, how soon -- if ever -- should the United States
use
military force against Osama Bin Laden or others linked to the
terrorist
attacks of September 11th? Do you think military action ... (READ)
Current 9/27-28/01 9/20-21/01
24 Should have ALREADY started 18 17
11 Should start within the next few weeks 10 15
4 Should start within the next six months 4 6
55 Should take as long as is necessary to 63 59
plan something that will work, OR
3 Should NOT be considered at all? 2 1
3 Don't know 3 2
100 100 100
5. Now I'm going to read you a list of different things that might
have
motivated terrorists to attack the United States. As I read each one,
please tell me if you think it is a major reason, a minor reason or
not a
reason why terrorists have targeted the U.S. (First,) what about ...
(INSERT-READ AND RANDOMIZE). Is this a major reason, a minor reason,
or
not a reason (why terrorists have targeted the U.S.)?
Major Minor Not a reason DK
a. Opposition to U.S.
ties to Israel and
U.S. policies toward
the Palestinian
situation
Current 58 23 11 8 =100
Trend
(9/20-21/01) 68 21 5 6 =100
b. Resentment of the impact
of U.S. culture, such
as movies and other
popular entertainment,
in Muslim countries
Current 28 39 27 6 =100
Trend
(9/20-21/01) 28 39 26 7 =100
c. Economic hardships in
Muslim countries
created by western
capitalism
Current 39 30 23 8 =100
Trend
(9/20-21/01) 37 36 20 7 =100
d. Opposition to the Gulf
War and U.S. military
presence in the Persian
Gulf region
Current 47 32 16 5 =100
Trend
(9/20-21/01) 53 32 11 4 =100
e. Resentment of U.S.
military and economic
power in general
Current 62 24 10 4 =100
Trend
(9/20-21/01) 64 22 9 5 =100
6. Thinking about United States policies in general in the Middle
East,
should the United States consider changing its policies in the Middle
East
to try to reduce the violent backlash against the United States or
should
the United States not consider such changes?
46 Should consider changing policies
43 Should NOT consider changes
11 Don't know/Refused
100
7. Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following
statement, or if you have no opinion either way -- "The U.S. should
reduce
its ties to Israel in order to lessen the acts of terrorism against
us."
Total 9/13-14/01 7/85
22 Agree 32 34
61 Disagree 50 48
17 No opinion/DK 18 18
100 100 100
7b. Do you think that reducing U.S. ties to Israel WOULD reduce the
amount of terrorist acts directed against the United States?
27 Yes, would reduce terrorist acts
63 No, would not
10 Don't know
100
8. Do you think that -- at this time -- the United States should or
should not favor creating a Palestinian state?
Current 6/96
33 Should favor 35
39 Should not favor 39
28 Don't know 26
100 100
****NOTE: The Newsweek poll question in 1996 on opinions toward
creation
of a Palestinian state did not include phrase "at this time."
9a. I'd like to find out what you think the impact of the United
States
endorsing the idea of Palestinian State would be. First, do you think
this
would help the United States' effort to build a coalition to fight
terrorism, hurt the U.S. effort, or would it not make any difference?
35 Help fight against terrorism
11 Hurt fight against terrorism
43 Make no difference
11 Don't know
100
9b. Next, do you think this would help Israel, hurt Israel or would it

not make any difference?
24 Help Israel
29 Hurt Israel
34 Make no difference
13 Don't know
100
9c. Next, do you think this would help the Palestinian people, hurt
them
or would it not make any difference?
38 Help the Palestinian people
19 Hurt the Palestinian people
32 Make no difference
11 Don't know
100
9d. Next, do you think this would make peace in the Middle East more
likely, less likely or would it not make any difference?
27 More likely
19 Less likely
47 Make no difference
7 Don't know
100
9e. As you may know, Egypt and Jordan are the only two major Arab
countries that have formally recognized ISRAEL's right to exist as an
independent state. How important do you think it is that the other
Arab
countries recognize Israel's right to exist as an independent state
...
very important, somewhat important, not too important or not important
at
all?
59 Very important
27 Somewhat important
5 Not too important
4 Not important at all
5 Don't Know
100
10a. Now I'd like to ask you about the amount of foreign aid and other

assistance the United States gives to several countries and groups.
For
each, I'd like to know if you think that amount of aid is too much,
too
little or about the right amount. The United States gave $2.8 Billion
to
Israel last year in aid. Do you think that is too much, too little or
about the right amount?
52 Too much
3 Too little
35 Right Amount
10 Don't Know
100
10b. What about Egypt? United States gave $2.2 Billion to Egypt last
year
in aid. Do you think that is too much, too little or about the right
amount?
55 Too much
3 Too little
30 Right Amount
12 Don't Know
100
10c. What about the Palestinian Authority? United States gave $80
Million
to Palestinian Authority last year in aid. Do you think that is too
much,
too little or about the right amount?
56 Too much
11 Too little
21 Right Amount
12 Don't Know
100
11. The United States currently has economic sanctions imposed on
Iraq.
Supporters say the sanctions restrain Saddam Hussein and Iraqi
government.
Opponents say the sanctions hurt the ordinary people in Iraq. Would
you
favor or oppose lifting those sanctions?
27 Favor
60 Oppose
13 Don't Know
100
12. Now I'm going to read you a list of groups and others and I'd like

to know if you think they have done enough to support the United
States
and oppose terrorism since the attacks on Sept. 11? (First,) what
about...(INSERT-READ AND RANDOMIZE) have they done enough to support
the
United States and oppose terrorism or have they failed to do enough?
Done enough Failed DK
a.Muslim leaders in the United States
Current 40 43 17 =100
b.Moderate Muslim leaders from other
countries
Current 25 58 17 =100
c.Religious leaders in other countries
who are not Muslim
Current 38 42 20 =100
d. The NATO countries in Europe
Current 53 32 15 =100
e. Saudi Arabia
Current 24 58 18 =100
f. Israel
Current 38 43 19 =100
*13. Please tell how much confidence you have in each of the following
to
deal with this situation. (First,) how much confidence do you have in
...(INSERT-READ AND RANDOMIZE): a lot of confidence, some, only a
little,
of no confidence at all?
A lot Some Only a little None DK
George W. Bush
Current 65 21 9 5 * =100
Trend
(9/20-21/01) 68 20 7 4 1 =100
Vice President
Dick Cheney
Current 50 27 11 9 3 =100
Trend
(9/20-21/01) 51 26 11 5 7 =100
Secretary of State
Colin Powell
Current 75 15 5 2 3 =100
Trend
(9/20-21/01) 77 15 4 1 3 =100
14. The Bush Administration has proposed a $75 billion package for tax

cuts and additional government spending to stimulate the economy. From

what you have heard, do you think this proposal goes too far, does not
go
far enough or is it about right?
21 Goes too far
14 Does not go far enough
57 About right
8 Don't Know
100
15. Thinking now about the Democrats in Congress, do you think that
they
have been too quick to SUPPORT President Bush and his policies since
the
attacks on Sept. 11, too quick to OPPOSE President Bush and his
policies
or have the Democrats taken appropriate actions in the past month?
10 Too quick to SUPPORT
6 Too quick to OPPOSE
78 Taken appropriate actions
6 Don't know
100;

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