Rasmussen Poll: 49% Now Believe Muslims View United States As The Enemy

Rasmussen: War on Terror Update

Voters See Growing Rift Between America and Islamic World

The number of voters who believe terrorists are winning the fight against the United States and its allies continues to grow, while views of Muslims in general and U.S. relations with the Islamic world have worsened.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror. That’s down from the 33% measured in March, but still above findings for most of last year. But now 39% think the terrorists are winning the war, up from 33% in the previous survey and the highest level of pessimism since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. Twenty-five percent (25%) say neither side is winning.

WNU Editor: In a nutshell .... many Americans now believe that the terrorists are winning and that their alliances are continuing to grow, while views of Muslims in general and U.S. relations with the Islamic world have worsened. The highest numbers in this poll were for this question .... eighty-six percent (86%) believe that radical Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States.

Nearly Half Of Americans Say 'Yes' To Bombing Iran's Nuclear Program

Bomb Iran? Nearly Half Of Americans Say 'Yes' To Halt Nuclear Program. -- Christian Science Monitor

A new You-Gov poll finds 44 percent of Americans favor, and 35 percent oppose, a strike against Iran. Fewer Europeans favor force, but more are convinced Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.

Nearly half of Americans now say they would bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities to stop its uranium enrichment in order to halt its advances toward an ability to build a nuclear weapon – even as President Obama touts diplomacy as still the best means of addressing the Iranian nuclear issue.

Read more ....

My Comment: Half are in favor of war .... sighhh .... unbelievable. But tell the American public on what will be the consequences of such a bombing campaign, and I suspect that these numbers will collapse.

More Pity Than Respect Is The Perception That Many Troops Are Now Starting to Feel

MILITARY APPRECIATION
The U.S. Military Academy's West Point Band performs at halftime during the military appreciation game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots in East Rutherford, N.J., Nov. 13, 2011. Marines, sailors, Coast Guardsmen, airmen and soldiers unfurled an American Flag across the field during a pre-game ceremony as part of the Jets' celebration of veterans. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Randall Clinton

Troops Feel More Pity Than Respect -- Washington Post

The event was a Wall Street gala that raised millions of dollars for homeless veterans in New York City.

Kid Rock sang a ballad about helplessness, frustration and loss. On cue, several hundred soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines strode into position around him. The black-tie crowd rose to its feet and cheered.

“The servicemen and women were regarded as heroes,” said David Saltzman, who organized the spring fundraiser.

Read more ....

My Comment: That is the problem when only a small percentage of the population is directly impacted by the wars and conflicts that America currently finds itself in. For most Americans .... the 99% .... the only time that they think about the war is what they see on the news or if they know someone who is in the services.

Pity instead of respect .... yup .... I have been seeing more and more of that in the past two years.

Are Americans Sharing Sacrifices For Afghan War?

A U.S. sailor asks U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta a question during his visit to U.S. troops at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, Oct. 7, 2011. Panetta thanked the troops for their service and answered questions from service members. DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey

Are Americans Sharing Sacrifices For Afghan War? Military Families Respond -- PBS Newshour

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the start of the war in Afghanistan, the Pew Research Center commissioned a poll to explore the military-civilian gap in service, and how it has affected attitudes about war and sacrifice in the post-9/11 era.

The poll showed that both those who have served in the military and the civilian public feel proud of troops who are serving. But it also revealed that both groups don't think that the American public understands the problems that those in the military face.

Read more ....

My Comment: Former US Secretary of Defense Gates has his own impressions on this military-civilian divide.

As to what is my take .... my short answer is .... Americans are not sharing sacrifices for the Afghan war .... not even close.

Voters Don't Trust Russians Keeping START Promises

Voters Question Whether Russia Will Honor New START Treaty -- Rasmussen Reports

The Senate late yesterday approved the so-called START Treaty that calls for a reduction in the nuclear weapons stockpiles of both Russia and the United States, but U.S. voters remain wary of the former Soviet Union’s willingness to comply.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 27% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Russia to honor the nuclear weapons agreement. Half (49%) do not trust the Russians, and another 25% are not sure. That level of trust is consistent with results found in July and March. (To see survey questions wording, click here.)

Read more ....

My Comment: Since yesterday's vote to confirm the START Treaty, many in the media have been touting this as a political win for President Obama. These poll results should give them pause.

As to what is my take on this poll .... hey .... my nationality is Russian, and I know that they will not fully honor their commitments.

U.S. Support For President Obama's Afghan War Policy Plummets

PRAISING VETERANS - President Obama speaks at the convention of Disabled American Veterans in Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 2, 2010. He lauded veterans for their service and sacrifice and he praised today’s military for bringing the Iraq war to a close, as well as embracing the difficult mission ahead in Afghanistan. White House photo by Pete Souza

Poll: Waning Support For Obama On Wars -- USA Today

WASHINGTON — Public support for President Obama's Afghanistan war policy has plummeted amid a rising U.S. death toll and the unauthorized release of classified military documents, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows.

Support for Obama's management of the war fell to 36%, down from 48% in a February poll. Now, a record 43% also say it was a mistake to go to war there after the terrorist attacks in 2001.

Read more ....

My Comment: You know that the Taliban are also reading these polls .... and they do see the day when U.S. support for the war in Afghanistan will reside in the high 20s to low 30s, while opposition will be in the 60s or higher. My take .... when that milestone is reached will also be the day when President Obama will formally pull the plug on Afghanistan.

Majority Of Americans Oppose President Obama's Nuclear Startegy

55% Oppose Limits On U.S. Nuclear Response To Attacks -- Yahoo News/Rasmussen

Fifty-five percent (55%) of U.S. voters oppose President Obama's new policy prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons in response to chemical or biological attacks on the United States.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of voters agree with the president's decision to rule out a nuclear response if a non-nuclear country attacks America with chemical or biological weapons. Another 20% are undecided.

Only 31% favor a reduction in the number of nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal. Fifty-three percent (53%) oppose any such reduction. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure.

Read more ....

My Comment: On political support for the U.S.-Russian new START agreement, AP is reporting that the Republicans will still support the treaty. But other Republicans have a different view on President Obama's nuclear strategy, and are now receiving blow-back from the White house.

My take .... 55% is a large percentage opposing President Obama's nuclear strategy, and any other talk of reducing U.S. nuclear weapon stockpiles results in higher percentage differences. Republican leaders are going to take notice, and I will not be surprised if their public announcements will start to vocalize this sentiment.

Public Opinion On Defense Spending

From Think Progress:

Chris Bowers has an interesting post on growing public willingness to reduce defense spending that really needs a chart to summarize Gallup’s polling on the question. They’ve asked each February for a number of years how people feel about the Pentagon budget:

Read more ....

All Our Might has additional thoughts.