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    Sept. 11, 2001   (War on Terrorism, p. 9)


 

.

.

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. June 7-9, 2002. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Field work by TNS Intersearch.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of Bush's proposal to create a new federal agency called the Department of Homeland Security?"
Approve Disap-
prove
No
Opinion
% % %
6/02 69 19 12

.

"Do you think a new Department of Homeland Security would or would not improve the government's ability to prevent further terrorist attacks?"
Would Would
Not
No
Opinion
   
% % %    
6/02 74 21 5    

.

"How would you rate the job done by the FBI, CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies in analyzing and sharing information about possible terrorist attacks before last September 11? Would you say they did an excellent job, a good job, a not-so-good job, or a poor job analyzing and sharing intelligence information?"
Excellent Good Not-So-
Good
Poor No
Opinion
% % % % %
6/02 2 25 34 38 2

.

"How about now? In analyzing and sharing information about possible future terrorist attacks, would you say the FBI, CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies are now doing an excellent job, a good job, a not-so-good job, or a poor job?"
Excellent Good Not-So-
Good
Poor No
Opinion
% % % % %
6/02 11 56 20 8 5

.

"Given what you've heard about the information U.S. intelligence agencies had before the September 11th attacks, do you think U.S. intelligence agencies had enough information to prevent the attacks, if they'd been able to pull it together; or do you think the information was too vague and incomplete for the September 11th attacks to have been prevented?"
Had
Enough
Too
Vague
No
Opinion
% % %
6/02 42 53 5

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. June 7-8, 2002. N=800 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"Overall, how much do you blame each of the following for the September 11th terrorist attacks: a great deal, a moderate amount, only a little, or not at all? How about . . . ?"
Great
Deal
Moderate
Amount
Only a
Little
Not
At All
No
Opinion
% % % % %
The Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA
6/02 19 32 24 20 5
5/02 19 30 27 18 6

.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI
6/02 19 32 25 21 3
5/02 16 29 24 27 4

.

"Which comes closer to your view: no one could have predicted the attacks of September 11th, or the government should have been able to predict the attacks of September 11th given the information available to it?"
  6/02 5/02
  % %
No one could have predicted 50 58
Should have been able to predict 45 38
No opinion 5 4

.

"As you may know, shortly after the September 11th terrorist attacks, President Bush created the office of Homeland Security. Now, Bush is proposing that this office be combined with many existing government agencies to create a new cabinet-level department. Do you approve or disapprove of the creation of a new cabinet Department of Homeland Security?"
Approve Disap-
prove
No
Opinion
   
% % %    
6/02 72 20 8    

.

"If the government creates a new cabinet Department of Homeland Security, how effective do you think this new department would be in protecting the U.S. from future acts of terrorism: very effective, somewhat effective, not too effective, or not effective at all?"
Very Some-
what
Not
Too
Not
At All
No
Opinion
% % % % %
6/02 20 55 13 8 4

.

"Which comes closer to your view of why George W. Bush announced the formation of the new cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security? Did he announce it solely because he felt it was in the best interests of the country, or did he announce it to divert attention from reports that the government failed to take action on warnings about terrorist attacks it received prior to Sept. 11?"
Best
Interests
Divert
Attention
No
Opinion
   
% % %    
6/02 56 37 7    

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. June 4-5, 2002. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Which terrorist activity do you think is the biggest threat right now? . . ."
    %  
  Chemical or biological weapons 29  
  Individual suicide bombings 16  
  Water or food supplies being poisoned or infected 12  
  Truck or car bombs 10  
  Tactical nuclear weapons or dirty bombs 10  
  Planes being hijacked and crashed 7  
  Not sure 16  

.

"How long do you think it will be before a terrorist detonates a nuclear device inside the United States? . . ."
  %
Six months or less 7
7 months to 12 months 9
In the next 1-5 years 23
6-10 years from now 8
More than 10 years from now 10
Never 22
Not sure 21

.

"Last week Attorney General John Ashcroft announced new rules giving FBI agents working on detecting and preventing terrorism more leeway to attend mosques or other religious places, go to political rallies and monitor Internet sites, without first having evidence of wrongdoing. Do you approve or disapprove of these new surveillance rules?"

%
Approve 66
Disapprove 22
Not sure 12

 

Gallup Poll. May 20-22, 2002. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (total sample).

.

"As you may know, the Administration says that some general information was available to the FBI or White House officials before September 11th concerning terrorist plans by Osama bin Laden, but that there was no specific information about the September 11th attacks in particular.

"Which comes closer to your view about White House officials' actions in this situation: they did the best job they could have done with the information available to them, or they could have done a better job handling this information?"

Did Best
Job
Could
Have Done
Better
No
Opinion
 
% % %  
5/02 54 44 2  

.

"Thinking about how the Republicans and Democrats in Congress have reacted to this controversy: Which comes closer to your view about the Republicans' in Congress reaction: they are more interested in protecting the President, or they are more interested in finding out what really happened?"
  %  
Protecting the President 50  
  Finding out what really happened 40    
  No opinion 10    

.

"Which comes closer to your view about the Democrats' in Congress reaction: they are more interested in making the President look bad, or they are more interested in finding out what really happened?"
  %  
Making the President look bad 54  
  Finding out what really happened 39    
  No opinion 7    

 

CBS News Poll. May 19-20, 2002. N=681 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"Some people have said that the September 11th terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon represent the biggest failure for American intelligence operations since Pearl Harbor. Do you think that these attacks were something that government intelligence agencies should have been able to discover in advance?"
Yes No Don't
Know
 
% % %  
5/19-20/02 54 36 10  

.

"When you think about the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, do you place a lot of blame, some blame, or no blame at all on the United States intelligence agencies like the CIA and the FBI?"
A Lot Some None Don't
Know
% % % %
5/19-20/02 13 53 29 5

.

"Was the Bush Administration paying enough or not enough attention to terrorism prior to September 11th?"
Enough Not
Enough
Don't
Know
 
% % %  
5/19-20/02 22 67 11  

.

"Is the Bush Administration paying enough or not enough attention to terrorism now?"
Enough Not
Enough
Too
Much
(vol.)
Don't
Know
% % % %
5/19-20/02 83 14 1 1

.

"Do you think that George W. Bush personally knew before September 11th about intelligence reports that warned of possible terrorist attacks against the United States using airplanes, or not?"
Knew Did Not
Know
Don't
Know
 
% % %  
5/19-20/02 41 43 16  

.

"Do you think that senior members of the Bush Administration personally knew before September 11th about intelligence reports that warned of possible terrorist attacks against the United States using airplanes, or not?"
Knew Did Not
Know
Don't
Know
 
% % %  
5/19-20/02 50 33 17  

.

"Do you think the intelligence agencies -- the FBI and the CIA -- had information before September 11th that could have prevented the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, or didn't they have that information?"
Did
Have
Did Not
Have
Don't
Know
 
% % %  
5/19-20/02 48 36 16  

.

"When it comes to what they knew prior to September 11th about possible terrorist attacks against the United States, do you think members of the Bush Administration are telling the entire truth, are mostly telling the truth but hiding something, or are they mostly lying?"
Entire
Truth
Hiding
Something
Mostly
Lying
Don't
Know
% % % %
5/19-20/02 21 65 8 6

.

"Do you think Congress should hold hearings to investigate what the White House knew about possible terrorist attacks, or don't you think that is necessary?"

Should
Hold
Hearings
Not
Necessary
Don't
Know
 
% % %  
5/19-20/02 36 62 2  

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. May 18-19, 2002. N=803 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.5. Field work by TNS Intersearch.

.

"Do you think the United States government did all it reasonably could do to try to prevent the September 11th terrorist attacks, or do you think it could have done more?"
Did All
It Could
Could
Have Done
More
No
Opinion
   
% % %    
5/02 43 53 3    

.

"Do you happen to have heard or read recent news stories that Bush was briefed last summer, before the September 11th terrorist attacks, about intelligence reports of a possible terrorist plot to hijack American airplanes?"
Yes No No
Opinion
% % %
5/02 83 16 1

.

"Do you think the Bush Administration did or did not do enough to follow up on these intelligence reports, given what was known at the time?"
Did
Enough
Did Not Do
Enough
No
Opinion
% % %
5/02 44 46 10

.

"Does it sound to you like these intelligence reports were detailed enough for the government to have taken specific action to increase security, or do you think these reports were too vague for the government to know what action to take?"
Detailed
Enough
Too
Vague
No
Opinion
% % %
5/02 32 56 12

.

"It's also been reported that an FBI agent last July proposed an investigation of Arabs taking flight-school training in the United States. The FBI did not follow up on this proposal. Do you regard this more as a missed opportunity, or more as negligence on the part of the FBI?"
Missed
Oppor-
tunity
Negli-
gence
Both
(vol.)
Neither
(vol.)
No
Opinion
% % % % %
5/02 41 50 3 2 4

.

"Do you think the Administration should or should not publicly release the intelligence information about terrorist threats that it had last summer?"
Should Should
Not
No
Opinion
% % %
5/02 47 47 5

.

"Do you think the U.S. Congress should or should not conduct an investigation into what the Bush Administration knew about terrorist threats before September 11th and how it handled that intelligence?"
Should Should
Not
No
Opinion
% % %
5/02 56 41 3

.

"Compared to the way it handled intelligence reports about terrorist threats last summer, do you think the Bush Administration is now doing a better job handling intelligence about terrorist threats, a worse job, or what?"

Better

Worse
About the
Same (vol.)
No
Opinion
% % % %
5/02 82 3 6 9

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Robert Teeter (R). May 18, 2002. N=602 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the measures the Bush Administration took based on the information they had prior to September eleventh?"
Satisfied Dissat-
isfied
Not
Sure
   
% % %    
5/02 58 31 11    

.

"Do you think that the Bush Administration did as much as was reasonable because it was impossible to predict that airplanes would be used as weapons, or do you think that the Bush Administration could have done more to prevent or warn about hijackings even if they did not know airplanes would be used as weapons?"
Did As
Much As
Reasonable
Could
Have Done
More
Not
Sure
   
% % %    
5/02 53 41 6    

.

"Do you think that there should be a full-scale investigation into the handling of intelligence before September eleventh, or do you feel that this would be unproductive and too political?"
  %  
Should be a full-scale investigation 36  
Investigation would be unproductive 58  
Not sure 6  

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. May 16-17, 2002. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Thinking about the warnings the Bush Administration received before the September 11th terrorist attacks, did the following individuals do all they should have with the information, or not? . . ."
Did Did Not Don't
Know
% % %
Top FBI officials
5/02 30 53 17

.

Top CIA officials
5/02 28 53 19

.

The President's national security advisers
5/02 38 46 16

.

The President himself
5/02 48 39 13

.

"Now thinking about information available to the U.S. government before the September 11th attacks, do you think that the Bush Administration should have issued public warnings about possible airline hijackings?"
  %      
  Yes, should have 55      
  No 38      
  Don't know 7      

.

"Do you think such warnings would have prevented the September 11th attacks or not?"
  %      
  Yes, would have 25      
  No 67      
  Don't know 8      

.

"Again, thinking about information available to the U.S. government before the September 11th attacks, do you think the FBI should have investigated all Arab nationals taking pilot training or not?"
  %      
  Yes, should have 77      
  No 18      
  Don't know 5      

.

"Do you think the Clinton Administration did all it could have to detect and prepare for a possible terrorist attack on the United States?"
  %      
  Yes, all it could have 27      
  No 59      
  Don't know 14      

.

"How much of the blame, if any, do you think each of the following deserves for allowing the September 11th terrorist attacks to happen? What about [see below]? Does this deserve a lot of the blame, some, only a little, or none?"
A Lot Some Only a
Little
None Don't
Know
% % % % %
Failure of the FBI and CIA's intelligence efforts to identify and stop terrorist plots from being carried out
5/02 39 35 14 6 6
9/13-14/01 30 39 19 8 4

.

Inadequate security at airports to prevent terrorists from bringing weapons on planes
5/02 56 26 9 4 5
9/13-14/01 57 27 9 5 2

.

Inadequate security systems to deal with hijackers while planes are in the air
5/02 45 30 13 5 7
9/13-14/01 45 32 13 6 4

.

"In the wake of the recent developments, do you think President Bush should fire the head of the CIA and other CIA officials who were in charge at the time of the attacks?"
    %        
  Yes 23        
  No 65        
  Don't know 12        

.

"In the wake of the recent developments, do you think President Bush should fire top officials who were in charge at the FBI at the time at the time of the attacks?"
    %        
  Yes 23        
  No 65        
  Don't know 12        

.

"Immediately after September 11th, Congress did not quickly begin a public investigation of intelligence failures of the CIA and FBI. Do you think it was in the national interest for Congress NOT to start such an investigation at that time or should Congress have started a probe immediately?"
  %    
  In national interest NOT to start probe 31    
  Should have started probe immediately 63    
  Don't know 6    

.

"Now, do you think it is in the national interest for Congress to investigate intelligence failures of the CIA and FBI in connection with the September 11th terrorist attacks, or would such a public investigation at this time not be in the national interest?"
  %    
  In national interest to investigate 68    
  Would not be in national interest 24    
  Don't know 8    

.

"Do you think that the intelligence failures of the CIA and FBI in connection with the September 11th terrorist attacks are appropriate issues to be debated during the upcoming congressional campaign or are they not appropriate issues for political debate?"
  %      
  Appropriate 52      
  Not appropriate 41      
  Don't know 7      

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. May 16, 2002. N=598 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"First, how much confidence do you have in the Bush Administration to protect its citizens from future terrorist attacks: a great deal, fair amount, not very much, or none at all?"
Great
Deal
Fair
Amount
Not Very
Much
None
At All
No
Opinion
% % % % %
5/16/02 38 37 16 7 2

.

"As you may know, the Bush Administration said today that it was aware before September 11th that Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization had plans to hijack U.S. airplanes. However, the Administration was not aware that the airplanes would be used to blow up buildings, and they were not aware of a specific date or location of attack. Has this made you feel less favorably toward President Bush, or has it not affected your opinion of him?"

Less
Favorably
Not
Affected
Opinion
More
Favorably
(vol.)
No
Opinion
 
% % % %  
5/16/02 32 66 1 1  

.

"Do you think the Bush Administration did or did not act on the information available to them in a proper way?"
Did Did
Not
No
Opinion
   
% % %    
5/16/02 41 52 7    

.

"Do you think the Bush Administration did or did not give airlines as much warning about hijacking threats as was possible?"
Did Did
Not
No
Opinion
   
% % %    
5/16/02 29 58 13    

.

"Do you think the Bush Administration should or should not have discussed the fact before now that it had this information prior to September 11th?"
Should Should
Not
No
Opinion
   
% % %    
5/16/02 68 29 3    

.

"Finally, do you think there should or should not be a congressional investigation into the fact that the Bush Administration did not release this information sooner?"
Should Should
Not
No
Opinion
   
% % %    
5/16/02 43 55 2    

 

CBS News Poll. May 13-14, 2002. N=647 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"How likely do you think it is that the fighting in Afghanistan will spread to a larger war between Western countries and Muslim countries: very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?"
Very Somewhat Not Too Not at All Unsure
% % % % %
5/02 30 42 19 5 4
4/02 34 43 14 3 6
2/02 25 46 19 5 5
1/5-6/02 19 48 24 6 3
12/01 21 48 26 3 2

.

"Which do you think is the more serious threat to Americans: international terrorism committed by citizens from other countries, or domestic terrorism committed by American citizens?"
International
Terrorism
Domestic
Terrorism
Both
Equally (vol.)
Unsure
% % % %
5/02 56 30 10 4

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Robert Teeter (R). April 5-7, 2002. N=1,005 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.2.

.

"When it comes to dealing with homeland security issues and keeping America safe from terrorist attacks, do you approve or disapprove of the job George W. Bush is doing?"
Approve Disap-
prove
Not
Sure
% % %
4/02 77 16 7

.

"When it comes to America's military operations in the war on terrorism, would you say that the operations have been very successful, fairly successful, only somewhat successful, or not successful at all?" Half sample (Form A)
Very Fairly Only
Somewhat
Not
At All
Not
Sure
% % % % %
4/02 31 32 31 5 1

 

CBS News Poll. April 1-2, 2002. N=616 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the military attacks led by the United States against targets in Afghanistan?"
Approve Disapprove Unsure
% % %
4/02 88 9 3
2/02 87 8 5
1/21-24/02 87 9 4
1/15-17/02 87 10 3
1/5-6/02 89 8 3
12/01 91 5 4
11/01 89 7 4
10/01 88 8 4

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the United States leading military attacks in other countries where it believes terrorists are hiding, like Iraq, Somalia, and the Philippines?"
Approve Disapprove Approve of
Some (vol.)
Unsure
% % % %
4/02 68 21 2 9
1/21-24/02 73 18 1 8

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. March 22-24, 2002. Nationwide.

.

"If the U.S. were attacked by terrorists using nuclear weapons, do you think the United States would be justified or not justified in using nuclear weapons against training camps and other facilities used by the terrorists that the U.S. believes were responsible for the attack?" Form A (N=510, MoE ± 5)
Justified Not
Justified
Not
Sure
   
% % %    
3/22-24/02 67 30 3    

.

"If the U.S. were attacked by terrorists using nuclear weapons, do you think the United States would be justified or not justified in using nuclear weapons against major cities in countries that harbor the terrorists the U.S. believes were responsible for the attack?" Form A (N=510, MoE ± 5)
Justified Not
Justified
Not
Sure
   
% % %    
3/22-24/02 57 40 3    

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. March 12-13, 2002. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you support or oppose the U.S. military action being taken in response to the terrorist attacks?"
Support Oppose Not
Sure
% % %
3/12-13/02 91 6 3
2/26-27/02 82 11 7
1/30-31/02 89 7 4
1/9-10/02 90 5 5
12/12-13/01 91 6 3
11/28-29/01 91 5 4
11/14-15/01 91 6 3
10/31 - 11/1/01 87 8 5

.

"Recently there has been discussion about a so-called 'shadow government' which consists of about 100 government officials who live and work underground who would take over in the event of a disabling attack on Washington, D.C. Do you think this shadow government is more reassuring to the American people or disturbing to the American people?"
  %    
Reassuring 46    
Disturbing 36    
Not sure 18    

.

"In addition to the military troops in Afghanistan, U.S. troops were recently sent to the Philippines, the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, and the country of Yemen. Does this military action make you feel more confident about winning the war on terrorism, or does it make you concerned that the war is spreading our military resources too thin?"
    %        
  Confident 47        
  Concerned 31        
  Neither (vol.) 5        
  Both (vol.) 3        
  Not sure 14        
 

.

"Do you support or oppose the government developing tactical nuclear weapons to be used in the war on terror?"
  %    
Support 42    
Oppose 48    
Not sure 10    

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. March 7-10, 2002. N=1,008 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Field work by TNS Intersearch.

.

"Do you support or oppose the U.S. military action in Afghanistan?"
Support Oppose No
Opinion
% % %
3/02 91 8 1
11/27/01 91 7 2
11/5-6/01 90 9 1

.

"Do you think the U.S. military action in Afghanistan is going very well, fairly well, not too well or not well at all?"
Very
Well
Fairly
Well
Not Too
Well
Not Well
At All
No
Opinion
% % % % %
3/02 24 61 10 3 1
11/27/01 42 51 3 2 2
11/5-6/01 23 62 8 4 3

.

"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?"
Same As
Vietnam
Will
Avoid
That
No
Opinion
% % %
3/02 18 77 5

.

"Do you think it's worth risking a large number of U.S. military casualties in order to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, or not?"
Yes No No
Opinion
% % %
3/02 44 54 3
11/01 60 34 6

.

"Do you support or oppose sending U.S. troops to try to help capture terrorists in other countries, such as the Philippines and Yemen?"
Support Oppose No
Opinion
% % %
3/02 72 26 1

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. March 8-9, 2002. N=802 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"Thinking about the terrorist attacks on September 11th, which occurred six months ago: Do you think this is or is not the most tragic news event in your lifetime?"
%    
Yes, is 80    
No, is not 19    
No opinion 1    

.

"As a result of the events that occurred on September 11th, would you say that now you are less willing to [see below], or not?"
  Less
Willing
No, Not Less
Willing
More
Willing (vol.)
No
Opinion
  % % % %
Travel overseas 45 52 1 2
Fly on airplanes 33 64 1 2
Attend events where there are thousands of people
    32 66 1 1
Go into skyscrapers 27 70 1 2

.

"Do you think September 11th should or should not be a national holiday every year like Veteran's Day or Memorial Day?"
%    
Should 48    
Should not 48    
No opinion 4    

.

"Would you say that you now have less trust in Arabs living in this country than you did before the terrorist attacks on September 11th, or has your trust in Arabs living in this country not changed?"
%    
Less trust 37    
Hasn't changed 61    
No opinion 2    

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Feb. 26-27, 2002. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"How important do you think each of the following is as a goal of the U.S. military action in Afghanistan: very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important? . . ."
Very Somewhat Not Very Not at All Unsure
% % % % %
Capturing or killing Osama bin Laden 59 27 7 4 3

.

Providing humanitarian aid 50 34 9 4 3

.

"President Bush has said that Osama bin Laden is wanted 'dead or alive.' Would you prefer to see bin Laden assassinated or captured and brought to trial in the U.S.?"
Assass-
inated
Brought
To Trial
Unsure
% % %
2/02 38 46 16
11/01 43 45 12
10/01 36 51 13

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Feb. 8-10, 2002. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you think the U.S. should or should not take military action to prevent countries that sponsor terrorism from threatening America or its allies with weapons of mass destruction?"
Should Should
Not
No
Opinion
% % %
2/02 86 10 4

.

"Do you think [see below] currently has weapons of mass destruction, is trying to develop these weapons but does not currently have them, or is not trying to develop weapons of mass destruction?"
Currently
Has
Trying To
Develop
Not
Trying To
Develop
No
Opinion
% % % %
Iraq 55 40 2 3
North Korea 50 36 5 9
Iran 48 43 4 5

.

"Would you describe the governments of each of the following countries as evil, or not? How about [see below]?"
Evil Not Evil No
Opinion
% % %
Iraq 82 13 5
Iran 69 24 7
North Korea 54 35 11
Cuba 45 48 7
China 38 54 8
Russia 17 75 8

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2002. N=1,008 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"From what you know about Islam and its religious teachings, do you think the suicide bombings and other violence by some followers of Islam represent a perversion of Islam by extremists OR reflect an important part of Islam's teachings?"
A
Perversion
Part of
Teachings
Don't
Know
% % %
2/02 71 19 10
12/13-14/01 68 18 14
12/6-7/01 72 17 11

.

"Based on what the Bush Administration has done so far and is proposing to do in response to terrorism, do you think they are going too far in restricting civil liberties in this country, not far enough, or are handling this situation just about right?"
Too Far Not Far
Enough
Just
About
Right
Don't
Know
% % % %
2/02 12 23 59 6
11/01 11 14 72 3
9/01 8 17 72 3

.

"As you may know, some of our European allies have criticized the way the Taliban and Al Qaeda prisoners being detained at the Guantanamo military base have been treated. Do you think the United States has NOT treated them properly and should make changes, OR has treated them properly BUT should take steps to more closely follow Geneva Convention procedures to maintain European support, OR there is no need for any changes in the way the prisoners are being treated?"
%
Not treated properly and should make changes 6
Treated properly but should more closely follow Geneva Convention 32
No need for any changes 55
Don't know 7

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Jan. 30-31, 2002. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Would you support or oppose the United States taking military action against any nation found to be aiding or hiding terrorists?"
Support Oppose Not
Sure
% % %
1/30-31/02 80 12 8
10/17-18/01 84 11 5

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Jan. 21-24, 2002. N=1,034 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"How much confidence do you have in the ability of the U.S. government to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, who is believed to have planned the September 11 attacks on the U.S.? Would you say you're very confident he will be caught, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?"
Very Somewhat Not Too Not at All Unsure
% % % % %
1/21-24/02 29 44 17 8 2
1/15-17/02 34 38 19 8 1
1/5-6/02 34 42 15 7 2
12/7-10/01 37 41 15 6 1
11/13-14/01 33 37 18 9 3
10/25-28/01 28 42 20 7 3
10/8/01 38 38 16 5 3

.

"What is your impression of how the war is going for the United States right now: very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?"
Very Well Somewhat
Well
Somewhat
Badly
Very Badly Unsure
% % % % %
1/21-24/02 38 51 7 2 2
1/15-17/02 40 49 6 2 3
1/5-6/02 43 49 4 2 2
12/7-10/01 51 42 4 1 2
11/13-14/01 41 48 5 2 4
10/25-28/01 25 58 11 2 4
10/9/01 36 44 7 1 12

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Jan. 11-14, 2002. N=1,008 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"If the U.S. government decides to take military action in the following countries, would you favor or oppose it? How about in [see below]?"
Favor Oppose No
Opinion
% % %
Iraq 77 17 6
Iran 71 23 6
Somalia 62 26 12

.

"As you may know, the U.S. has sent a small number of military advisors to the Philippines to help train that country's army to fight Muslim terrorists. Do you approve or disapprove of this decision?"
Approve Disap-
prove
No
Opinion
% % %
1/11-14/02 81 15 4

.

"If the U.S. sent 1,000 American troops to the Philippines to join that country's army in combat situations against Muslim terrorists, would you favor or oppose this?"
Favor Oppose No
Opinion
% % %
1/11-14/02 70 26 4

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Latest: Dec. 14-16, 2001. N=1,019 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (total sample).

.

"How satisfied are you with the amount of progress made by the U.S. military in the war in Afghanistan: very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied?" N=485, MoE ± 5
Very Somewhat Not Too Not
At All
No
Opinion
% % % % %
12/14-16 69 23 5 2 1
11/26-27 58 35 4 2 1
11/2-4 27 52 11 7 3

.

"Based on what you have heard or read about the videotape of Osama bin Laden, which of the following comes closer to your view? [Rotate:] It proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he helped to plan the September 11th terrorist attacks. OR, It proves that he was happy the September 11th terrorist attacks occurred, but did not prove that he helped to plan them."
%
Proves he helped plan the terrorist attacks 73
Proves he was happy the attacks occurred 17
No opinion 10

.

"Based on what you know about the captured American Taliban soldier, what do you think the U.S. should do with him now? Should the U.S. [rotate:] execute him for treason, imprison him for crimes against the U.S., or release him -- or don't you know enough to say?"
%
Execute him 22
Imprison him 47
Release him 3
Don’t know enough to say 26
No answer 2

.

"Which comes closer to your view? [Rotate:] The U.S. should take active steps to make certain that the new government in Afghanistan gives women the same basic rights that men in that country have. OR, The U.S. should allow the new government in Afghanistan to make its own rules concerning the rights women have in that country." N=485, MoE ± 5
%
Make certain new government gives women basic rights 54
Allow new government to make its own rules 43
No opinion 3

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Dec. 12-13, 2001. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"How likely do you think it is that terrorist attacks might take place during the current holiday season -- meaning now through New Year's Eve . . . ?"
%
Very likely 16
Somewhat likely 42
Not very likely 23
Not at all likely 11
Not sure 8

.

"Based on what you know about John Walker, the American who was captured while fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan, do you think he should be charged with treason or not?"
%
Should be charged with treason 59
Should not be 18
Not sure 23

.

"It is widely acknowledged that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction. Do you think the U.S. should take immediate military action against Iraq, or try to develop an international consensus before taking action against Iraq?"
%
Take immediate military action 36
Try to develop an international consensus 54
Don't know 10

 

The Gallup Poll. Dec. 6-9, 2001. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the current U.S. military action in Afghanistan?"
Approve Disap-
prove
No
Opinion
% % %
12/6-9 88 9 3
11/26-27 92 6 2
11/2-4 86 11 3
10/19-21 88 10 2

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the following people are handling the war on terrorism since September 11th? How about [see below]?"
Approve Disap-
prove
No
Opinion
% % %
The American people 90 8 2
George W. Bush 87 10 3
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld 82 9 9
Attorney General John Ashcroft 76 14 10
Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge 67 12 21
The news media 59 38 3

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Dec. 6-7, 2001. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the current U.S. military action against terrorism?"
Approve Disap-
prove
Don't
Know
% % %
12/6-7 88 9 3
11/29-30 89 7 4
11/15-16 88 11 1
11/8-9 88 10 2
11/1-2 86 10 4
10/25-26 88 8 4
10/18-19 88 9 3
10/11-12 89 8 3

.

"Now thinking about John Walker, the American citizen who was captured as part of the Taliban forces in Afghanistan: Do you think Walker should be charged with treason and put on trial for fighting on the side of the enemy, OR should only be charged and tried if there is evidence he committed specific crimes during the fighting?"
%
Charged for fighting on side of enemy 41
Charged if evidence of specific crimes 40
Shouldn't be charged/Mentally unfit (vol.) 3
Don't know 16

.

"Thinking more generally about the Middle East: Do you think that U.S. support for friendly but dictatorial governments in the region has an important effect in increasing support for Islamic extremists among the common people in these countries, or not?"
%
Yes 48
No 30
Don't know 22

.

"Do you think the U.S. should put more pressure on Middle East governments to allow for more democracy -- even if it means Islamic extremists might win power?"
%
Yes 48
No 40
Don't know 12

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Nov. 29-30, 2001. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"How do you feel about the new power the U.S. government has to detain legal immigrants suspected of crimes indefinitely as a way to protect against terrorism? Is this something you strongly favor, are willing to accept if necessary, or do you think it goes too far?"
Strongly
Favor
Willing
to Accept
Goes
Too Far
Don't
Know
% % % %
11/29-30 35 43 19 3

.

"From what you've seen or heard in the news, do you approve or disapprove of the Bush Administration's plan to put non-U.S. citizens charged with terrorism on trial in special military tribunals rather than in the regular criminal court system?"
%
Approve 68
Disapprove 22
Don't know 10

.

"Some of our European allies, like Spain and Germany, say their laws prevent them from turning over suspected terrorists to the United States because of the plan for military tribunals and the possibility of the death penalty. Do you think our allies' reluctance to cooperate makes the plan for tribunals more trouble than it's worth, or that it is still a good idea?"
%
More trouble than it's worth 23
Still a good idea 70
Don't know 7

.

"In general, what do you think the United States should do if our ALLIES refuse to turn over suspected terrorists: use covert operations to seize suspected terrorists and bring them here for trial; modify the Bush plan for tribunals or set it aside to get our allies to cooperate; OR, agree to try suspected terrorists in some kind of INTERNATIONAL tribunal acceptable to both countries?"
%
Seize suspected terrorists 16
Modify or set aside tribunals 14
Use international tribunals 64
Don't know 6

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Nov. 28-29, 2001. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"As part of the war on terrorism, the federal government wants to question 5,000 Middle Eastern immigrants on the basis of their religion or nationality. Some local officials have refused to perform the questioning, suggesting the government needs to show more cause to question the visitors. Do you approve or disapprove of the government questioning these individuals?"
%
Approve 67
Disapprove 23
Not sure 10

.

"When Osama bin Laden or other terrorists are brought to trial, in which court do you think they should be tried? . . ."
%
The World Court 29
A regular U.S. court 22
A U.S. military tribunal 36
Not sure 13

.

"Do you think suspected terrorists should be tried in a non-public military tribunal, in which the names of the defendants and the evidence is withheld, or should they be tried in the normal justice system?"
%
A non-public military tribunal 30
The normal justice system 57
Not sure 13

.

"Do you think the president has the right to bypass the normal judicial system and ask for a military tribunal for suspected terrorists?"
%
Yes 64
No 25
Not sure 11

.


 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Nov. 27, 2001. N=759 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.5 (total sample). Field work by TNS Intersearch.

.

"Would you support or oppose U.S. military action against other countries that assist or shelter terrorists?"
Support Oppose Unsure
% % %
11/27 81 15 4
10/8-9 87 10 2

.

"As part of its terrorism investigation, the federal government says it wants to interview about 5,000 young men from the Middle East who are in the United States on temporary visas. The government says the men are not suspects and the interviews are voluntary. Others say this approach singles out these men unfairly on the basis of their national origin. What's your opinion? Do you support or oppose the plan to interview these 5,000 men?"
Support Oppose Unsure
% % %
11/27 79 19 2

.

"Do you think non-U.S. citizens who are charged with terrorism should be put on trial in the regular U.S. criminal court system or in a special military tribunal?" Split Sample A
%
Regular criminal court system 37
Special military tribunal 59
No opinion 4

.

"It's been proposed that non-U.S. citizens who are charged with terrorism should be put on trial in a special military tribunal, where trials can be closed to the public, with a military judge and jury, and there's no right to an appeal. Some people say this would protect ongoing investigations and avoid the use of civilian jurors who may fear for their lives. Others say it would be wrong to let the military conduct closed trials under new rules, and to single out non-citizens this way. Do you think non-U.S. citizens who are charged with terrorism should be put on trial in the regular U.S. criminal court system or in a special military tribunal?" Split Sample B
%
Regular criminal court system 38
Special military tribunal 58
Unsure 4

.

"Do you think it should be legal or illegal for the federal government to wiretap conversations between people who are being held on terrorism charges and their lawyers?"
Legal Illegal Unsure
% % %
11/27 73 24 3

.

"The U.S. government is detaining about 600 people in its investigation of the September 11th attacks, most of them for overstaying their visas or otherwise violating immigration laws. Do you think the United States is or is not justified in detaining these people?"
Is Is Not Unsure
% % %
11/27 86 12 2

 

Pew Research Center survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Nov. 13-19, 2001. N=1,500 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (total sample).

.

"In general, how would you rate the job the press has done in covering the terrorist attacks and the war against terrorism? . . ."
Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Unsure
% % % % %
11/13-19 30 47 16 5 2
10/10-14 32 42 17 6 3
10/1-3 48 37 10 3 2
9/13-17 56 33 6 3 2

.

"Do you favor or oppose taking military action, including the use of ground troops, to retaliate against whoever is responsible for the terrorist attacks?" Form 1 (N=769, MoE ± 4)
Favor Oppose Unsure
% % %
11/13-19 85 8 7
9/13-17 82 8 10

.

"Do you favor or oppose taking military action, including the use of ground troops, to retaliate against whoever is responsible for the terrorist attacks, even if it means that U.S. armed forces might suffer thousands of casualties?" Form 2 (N=731, MoE ± 4)
Favor Oppose Unsure
% % %
11/13-19 77 14 9
9/13-17 77 9 14

.

"Do you think the military should exert more control over how news organizations report about the war or do you think that most decisions about how to report about the war should be left to news organizations themselves?" Form 1 (N=769, MoE ± 4)
11/01 10/10-14
% %
Military should exert more control 50 59
Leave to news organizations 40 28

Unsure

10 13

.

"Which is more important to you: that the government be able to censor news stories it feels threaten national security OR that the news media be able to report stories they feel are in the national interest?" Form 2 (N=731, MoE ± 4)
%
Government able to censor 53
News media able to report 39
Both equal (vol.) 4

Unsure

4

.

"In your opinion, which is better: that news coverage of a war be pro-American, or that news coverage of a war show all points of view, including those of countries not friendly to the United States?" Form 2 (N=731, MoE ± 4)
%
Pro-American 20
Show all points of view 73

Unsure

7

.

"When the government withholds information about the war on terrorism, is it mostly to protect American troops and the American public, or is it mostly to hide bad news to maintain support for the government's actions?"
%
Protect troops and public 70
Hide bad news 20
Both equal (vol.) 5

Unsure

5

Earlier polling on terrorism

 

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