National (US) Poll * October 7, 2009 * Terror-Free Afghanistan Is Wor - Quinnipiac University

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October 7, 2009 - Terror-Free Afghanistan Is Worth American Blood, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll; But Only 38 Percent Want To Send More Troops

Word format By a 65 - 28 percent majority, American voters are willing to have American soldiers "fight and possibly die" to eliminate the threat of terrorists operating from Afghanistan, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But voters say 49 - 38 percent that they do not think the U.S. will be successful in eliminating this terrorist threat.
A 52 - 37 percent majority of Americans think the war in Afghanistan is the right thing for the U.S. to do, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey of 2,630 American voters finds. But there is a wide racial split as white voters support the war 57 - 32 percent, while blacks are opposed 55 - 34 percent.
While 30 percent of voters are willing to have large numbers of American troops in Afghanistan "as long as it takes," another 28 percent say less than a year; 21 percent say one to two years and 14 percent say two to five years. Voters are more worried 50 - 42 percent that the U.S. will stay in Afghanistan too long, rather than U.S. troops will leave too soon. But only 32 percent of voters think the U.S. is headed for another Vietnam.
Voters 2 - 1 are willing to risk American troops to fight terrorism in Afghanistan, but they oppose 52 - 39 percent having U.S. troops "fight and possibly die" to build a stable democracy there. And they expect 62 - 22 percent that this nation-building effort will fail.
"The American people are deeply conflicted about the war in Afghanistan. Two-thirds of voters can tell you that the war is related to the 9/11 attacks and see the current effort there as worthwhile to prevent a reoccurrence," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But they don't want a prolonged military commitment and there is obvious nervousness about requests from the military to send more troops to Afghanistan."
"Voters are willing to shed American blood to fight terror, but not for nation-building," Brown added. "And almost 3 - 1 they expect nation-building to fail."
In a direct matchup of the two choices, 65 percent of voters say eliminating terrorism should be the main U.S. goal, while 21 percent say building a stable democratic government should be the main goal.
American voters trust President Barack Obama 55 - 38 percent to make the right decisions about troop levels in Afghanistan. He wins 84 - 11 percent trust from Democrats and 52 - 41 percent trust from independent voters, but Republicans distrust him 66 - 27 percent. Voters trust the military 81 - 15 percent to make the right recommendations on troop levels.
Only 38 percent want troop levels there increased. Another 28 percent want to decrease troop levels and 21 percent want to maintain current troop levels.
"The politics of the war issue are very complicated. Republicans by 54 - 14 percent want President Barack Obama to send more troops rather than reduce the number, while by 37 - 24 percent Democrats want levels reduced," said Brown.
"Even though the support overall for more troops is less than overwhelming, four out of five American voters trust the military to make the right recommendation about Afghanistan, a recommendation which could call for more troops," said Brown.
Only 32 percent of voters overall, with slightly higher numbers as you go up the age scale, say they are worried Afghanistan will turn into another Vietnam, while 56 percent say they are confident America will avoid such a scenario.
American voters are divided 42 - 40 percent, with 17 percent undecided, in their approval of Obama's handling of Afghanistan. He scores better on Iran, with a 45 - 39 percent approval, and gets a 49 - 37 percent approval for his overall handling of foreign policy.
Regarding Iran, voters say 54 - 31 percent that U.S. bombing of Iran's nuclear development sites would be a bad idea, virtually identical to the 55 - 29 percent who feel that Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear sites would be a bad idea, too. Jewish voters split 47 - 44 percent in their support for an Israeli bombing mission.
From September 29 - October 5, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,630 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 1.9 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 49% 25% 72% 46% 48% 51% 45% 74% 59% Disapprove 37 66 11 42 43 33 43 6 30 DK/NA 13 9 17 11 9 17 12 20 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 59% 47% 46% 53% 49% 51% 77% 58% 24% Disapprove 28 41 40 32 40 41 11 27 65 DK/NA 13 12 14 14 11 8 12 15 11 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Approve 47% 55% 32% 39% 48% 48% Disapprove 38 36 54 48 42 46 DK/NA 15 9 14 13 10 6
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
Oct 7 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 29 Apr 1 Mar 5 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 49 52 55 57 56 56 Disapprove 37 38 35 32 25 21 DK/NA 13 10 9 11 19 23
9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the situation in Afghanistan?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 42% 25% 59% 41% 43% 42% 38% 68% 54% Disapprove 40 60 21 43 44 37 46 11 30 DK/NA 17 15 19 16 13 21 17 21 16 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 54% 42% 35% 45% 43% 44% 63% 48% 26% Disapprove 31 42 45 36 43 45 25 34 58 DK/NA 14 16 21 19 14 11 12 18 16 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Approve 41% 46% 31% 33% 41% 27% Disapprove 41 39 49 48 46 50 DK/NA 18 15 20 18 13 23
10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the situation in Iran?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 45% 19% 66% 45% 45% 44% 41% 68% 47% Disapprove 39 65 16 39 43 34 43 11 33 DK/NA 17 16 18 16 12 21 16 21 20 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 51% 43% 42% 48% 45% 46% 69% 52% 25% Disapprove 31 41 41 35 41 42 20 30 60 DK/NA 18 15 17 18 15 12 11 18 15 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Approve 42% 53% 29% 35% 46% 38% Disapprove 40 34 53 47 43 46 DK/NA 18 13 18 18 11 15
26. Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Right thing 52% 72% 38% 56% 61% 45% 57% 34% 36% Shld not be invlvd 37 21 49 35 32 41 32 55 60 DK/NA 11 7 14 10 6 15 11 11 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Right thing 52% 57% 49% 46% 61% 62% 43% 51% 63% Shld not be invlvd 44 34 36 43 32 30 46 39 28 DK/NA 4 9 15 11 7 8 11 10 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Right thing 48% 63% 58% 57% 57% 61% Shld not be invlvd 41 27 29 30 32 28 DK/NA 11 10 13 13 10 11
27. Do you happen to know why the United States sent troops to Afghanistan 8 years ago? IF NEEDED: Why? CORRECT IS ANY ANSWER THAT REFERS TO: 9/11, Taliban, Twin Towers, terrorists, al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden.
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes/Correct 65% 74% 55% 70% 77% 55% 69% 35% 65% Don't know/Wrong 33 26 42 29 22 43 29 62 35 REFUSED 1 - 2 1 1 2 1 3 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes/Correct 68% 69% 61% 56% 75% 81% 65% 65% 68% Don't know/Wrong 32 30 37 42 24 18 34 33 31 REFUSED 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes/Correct 60% 79% 65% 67% 71% 68% Don't know/Wrong 39 19 34 32 29 25 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 7
28. Do you think building a stable democratic government in Afghanistan is a worthwhile goal for American troops to fight and possibly die for or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 39% 55% 25% 40% 46% 32% 42% 18% 35% No 52 36 64 53 47 57 48 74 56 DK/NA 9 9 10 7 7 11 9 9 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 39% 41% 37% 33% 44% 48% 28% 38% 49% No 57 50 52 59 48 46 63 55 42 DK/NA 5 9 11 9 9 6 10 7 10 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 35% 47% 49% 47% 38% 37% No 56 44 42 43 53 54 DK/NA 9 9 9 9 10 10
29. Do you think the United States will be successful in building a stable democratic government in Afghanistan or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 22% 29% 17% 22% 25% 19% 22% 20% 28% No 62 54 66 65 63 62 63 59 63 DK/NA 16 18 17 13 12 19 15 22 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 28% 22% 18% 22% 22% 22% 17% 22% 27% No 61 64 63 64 65 64 71 65 55 DK/NA 11 14 19 14 13 14 12 13 18 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 21% 24% 27% 23% 22% 15% No 63 61 56 61 61 66 DK/NA 16 14 17 16 16 19
30. Do you think eliminating the threat from terrorists operating from Afghanistan is a worthwhile goal for American troops to fight and possibly die for or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 65% 80% 53% 67% 73% 57% 69% 43% 59% No 28 14 39 27 23 33 25 46 33 DK/NA 7 5 8 6 3 10 6 10 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 63% 72% 59% 57% 75% 73% 54% 65% 74% No 31 25 31 35 22 23 39 29 20 DK/NA 6 3 10 8 3 3 7 6 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 61% 74% 72% 70% 70% 82% No 31 22 20 24 23 16 DK/NA 8 4 8 6 7 2
31. Do you think the United States will be successful in eliminating the threat from terrorists operating from Afghanistan or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 38% 52% 29% 38% 45% 32% 38% 30% 47% No 49 37 56 50 45 53 49 55 44 DK/NA 13 11 14 12 11 15 12 16 10 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 44% 40% 32% 35% 39% 41% 29% 36% 47% No 49 49 50 52 51 47 59 53 39 DK/NA 8 10 18 13 10 12 12 11 14 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 37% 40% 43% 38% 41% 39% No 50 48 44 48 48 48 DK/NA 13 11 13 14 10 13
32. What should be the main goal for the United States in Afghanistan - building a stable democratic government in Afghanistan or eliminating the threat from terrorists operating from Afghanistan?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Democratic gov 21% 20% 20% 22% 22% 21% 21% 21% 28% Eliminating terror 65 72 66 63 65 65 66 64 65 DK/NA 14 8 14 14 13 15 13 15 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Democratic gov 24% 22% 20% 22% 20% 20% 28% 20% 19% Eliminating terror 66 67 62 63 71 69 60 66 70 DK/NA 10 11 18 15 9 11 13 13 11 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Democratic gov 20% 24% 23% 22% 19% 15% Eliminating terror 65 64 66 65 70 77 DK/NA 14 12 11 13 12 8
33. Do you think the number of US troops in Afghanistan should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Increased 38% 54% 24% 40% 48% 28% 41% 18% 34% Decreased 28 14 37 28 23 33 25 45 36 Kept the same 21 19 26 19 17 25 20 25 27 DK/NA 13 13 13 13 12 14 14 12 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Increased 24% 42% 43% 33% 41% 46% 23% 34% 52% Decreased 38 26 24 33 25 24 42 29 19 Kept the same 28 21 18 24 21 19 22 24 19 DK/NA 10 11 15 11 13 11 14 13 10 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Increased 36% 42% 42% 45% 40% 50% Decreased 30 23 21 21 27 11 Kept the same 22 20 22 20 22 30 DK/NA 12 15 14 14 11 8
34. Do you think increasing American troops in Afghanistan will make the United States safer from terrorism or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 40% 58% 26% 41% 50% 31% 43% 20% 42% No 51 33 65 49 42 58 47 70 52 DK/NA 10 9 9 10 8 11 9 11 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 29% 44% 42% 37% 43% 47% 23% 37% 54% No 63 48 46 54 49 45 68 54 37 DK/NA 7 8 12 9 8 8 8 9 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 38% 44% 50% 48% 42% 46% No 53 46 39 41 50 48 DK/NA 9 10 11 11 8 6
35. Do you think that the United States needs to increase American troops in Afghanistan in order to win the war or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 44% 60% 29% 47% 53% 35% 46% 27% 41% No 43 30 57 40 36 50 40 61 55 DK/NA 13 10 14 13 10 15 14 13 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 32% 48% 46% 40% 49% 47% 28% 40% 58% No 58 41 37 48 42 39 58 48 31 DK/NA 10 11 16 12 9 13 14 12 11 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 41% 50% 48% 50% 45% 48% No 46 38 37 35 42 41 DK/NA 13 13 15 15 13 11
36. How much longer would you be willing to have large numbers of US troops remain in Afghanistan - less than a year, one to two years, two to five years, five to ten years, or as long as it takes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Less than a year 28% 13% 38% 28% 23% 33% 25% 45% 35% One to two years 21 16 29 18 18 23 21 25 25 Two to five years 14 19 11 15 18 10 16 7 5 Five to ten years 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 - 1 As long as it takes 30 46 16 31 34 26 31 17 33 DK/NA 6 5 6 6 4 7 5 6 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Less than a year 29% 26% 31% 33% 22% 23% 39% 30% 20% One to two years 22 22 20 20 26 20 28 22 16 Two to five years 15 16 12 13 17 16 12 17 13 Five to ten years 2 2 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 As long as it takes 28 32 28 28 29 34 15 24 45 DK/NA 3 3 9 5 3 4 4 6 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Less than a year 32% 20% 21% 23% 26% 18% One to two years 20 25 17 19 21 23 Two to five years 12 19 15 16 17 12 Five to ten years 1 4 2 2 2 3 As long as it takes 30 29 38 35 30 40 DK/NA 6 4 7 6 5 3
37. Do you trust President Obama to make the right decisions about U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 55% 27% 84% 52% 50% 60% 49% 89% 73% No 38 66 11 41 45 31 44 6 22 DK/NA 7 7 5 7 5 9 7 4 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 63% 55% 51% 60% 53% 54% 80% 63% 33% No 32 39 40 33 42 41 15 30 61 DK/NA 5 5 9 7 4 5 5 7 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 55% 56% 41% 44% 52% 50% No 37 39 52 47 42 47 DK/NA 8 4 7 8 6 3
38. Do you trust the US military to make the right recommendations about U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 81% 92% 75% 83% 81% 81% 82% 80% 83% No 15 6 18 15 16 14 14 14 14 DK/NA 4 2 7 3 3 6 4 6 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 83% 83% 78% 79% 84% 83% 74% 81% 88% No 15 14 16 17 15 13 22 15 9 DK/NA 2 3 6 4 1 3 4 4 2 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 80% 83% 86% 85% 84% 77% No 15 14 10 12 12 20 DK/NA 5 3 3 3 4 3
39. Which concerns you more - the United States will stay in Afghanistan too long, or the United States will leave Afghanistan too soon?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Stay too long 50% 28% 69% 47% 44% 55% 45% 73% 65% Leave too soon 42 66 22 46 51 35 48 16 32 DK/NA 8 6 9 7 5 10 7 11 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Stay too long 56% 49% 48% 55% 49% 45% 69% 56% 32% Leave too soon 41 46 40 38 46 51 24 38 60 DK/NA 3 5 12 7 5 4 7 6 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Stay too long 51% 47% 38% 41% 47% 38% Leave too soon 40 48 54 51 47 57 DK/NA 9 4 8 8 6 6
40. Do you think the United States is heading for the same kind of involvement in Afghanistan as it had in the Vietnam war, or do you think the United States will avoid that kind of involvement this time?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes/Same as Vietnam 32% 24% 34% 35% 34% 30% 32% 30% 38% No/Will avoid that 56 64 55 54 58 54 56 60 44 DK/NA 12 12 11 11 8 16 11 10 18 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes/Same as Vietnam 28% 32% 35% 34% 31% 30% 37% 33% 29% No/Will avoid that 60 59 51 55 58 60 53 58 59 DK/NA 12 8 14 10 12 10 11 10 13 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes/Same as Vietnam 34% 26% 30% 29% 32% 26% No/Will avoid that 53 63 59 58 57 66 DK/NA 13 11 11 13 11 9
41. Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea for the United States to bomb Iran's nuclear development sites?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Good idea 31% 41% 25% 31% 38% 25% 31% 27% 41% Bad idea 54 41 59 58 52 56 55 54 47 DK/NA 15 18 16 11 9 20 14 20 12 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Good idea 28% 33% 31% 31% 32% 32% 22% 28% 41% Bad idea 59 54 51 53 57 58 69 58 42 DK/NA 13 13 17 16 11 11 9 13 17 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Good idea 33% 26% 38% 32% 32% 46% Bad idea 50 64 44 53 53 48 DK/NA 16 11 18 14 15 6
42. Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea for Israel to bomb Iran's nuclear development sites?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Good idea 29% 39% 21% 29% 38% 21% 29% 23% 32% Bad idea 55 45 62 57 51 59 56 56 58 DK/NA 16 16 17 14 11 20 15 21 10 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Good idea 24% 30% 32% 28% 31% 30% 19% 23% 43% Bad idea 64 57 48 57 57 58 72 63 39 DK/NA 12 13 20 15 12 12 9 14 18 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Good idea 30% 26% 35% 31% 29% 44% Bad idea 52 63 48 52 57 47 DK/NA 17 11 17 16 14 9