Polls show Americans Not All That Optimistic About Threats by Islamic Militants and Will Probably Mean More "Boots on the Ground"

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Iraq ... and ISIS                                          USA Today Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Nov. 13-16, 2014. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.6. "Do you think President Obama needs authorization from Congress for the use of force against the Islamic terror group known as ISIS, or can he continue to send troops without authorization?" Needs authorization Doesn't need authorization Unsure Refused % % % %   11/13-16/14 62 30 7 1   CNN/ORC Poll. Oct. 24-26, 2014. N=1,018 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3. "Now here are a few questions about the Islamic militant group often referred to as ISIS that controls some areas of Iraq and Syria. The group is also sometimes referred to as ISIL or as the Islamic State. As you may know, the U.S. has conducted air strikes against ISIS forces in Iraq and in Syria, but there are no U.S. combat troops fighting ISIS forces in either country. "Based on what you have read or heard, do you favor or oppose the military air strikes conducted by the United States and its Western European and Arab allies against the ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria?" Favor Oppose Unsure % % %     10/24-26/14 76 21 3     9/25-28/14 73 24 3     "Regarding the situation in Iraq and Syria, how confident are you that the U.S. effort to degrade and destroy the military ability of ISIS forces will succeed? Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?" Very confident Somewhat confident Not too confident Not confident at all Unsure % % % % % 10/24-26/14 16 38 29 16 1 9/25-28/14 19 42 26 12 1 "Do you favor or oppose the United States sending ground troops into combat operations against ISIS forces in Iraq or Syria?" Favor Oppose Unsure % % %     10/24-26/14 45 53 2     9/25-28/14 38 60 2     "If ISIS forces in Iraq attacked the U.S. embassy or other U.S. facilities in Baghdad, would you favor or oppose sending ground troops into combat operations against ISIS in that circumstance?" Favor Oppose Unsure % % %     10/24-26/14 72 27 1     "If Iraq were to fall into the hands of the Islamic militants, do you think this would be a serious setback for U.S. prestige in the world, only a minor setback or not a setback at all?" A serious setback Only a minor setback Not a setback Unsure % % % %   10/24-26/14 53 34 12 1   "Do you think that the military action against ISIS will be a long conflict or a short conflict?"N=503 (Version A), margin of error ± 4.5. A long conflict A short conflict Unsure % % %     10/24-26/14 84 16 1     "Do you think the military action against ISIS will be difficult, or comparatively easy?" N=515 (Version B), margin of error ± 4.5. Difficult Comparatively easy Unsure % % %     10/24-26/14 81 16 3     NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). Oct. 8-12, 2014. N=1,000 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1. "Now, thinking about Iraq: When it comes to Iraq, do you think the war was worth it or not worth it?" Worth it Not worth it Depends (vol.) Unsure   % % % %   10/8-12/14 26 66 2 6   1/12-15/13 Adults 35 59 1 5   "Now, as you may know, a terrorist group called ISIS is operating in Syria and Iraq. ISIS militants have made significant territorial gains in these countries and have declared an independent Islamic state. ... "Is taking military action against ISIS in Iraq and Syria in our national interest or not? If you do not know enough about this to have an opinion, please just say so and we will move on." Is in our national interest Is not in our national interest Don't know enough Unsure   % % % %   10/8-12/14 61 16 22 1   9/3-7/14 61 13 24 2   "Now, more specifically, should U.S. military action against ISIS be limited to only air strikes, should it include both air strikes and American combat troops on the ground, or should U.S. military action not be taken at all?" Only air strikes Air strikes & ground troops No military action at all Unsure   % % % %   10/8-12/14 35 41 15 9   9/3-7/14 40 34 15 11   CBS News Poll. Oct. 3-6, 2014. N=1,260 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3. "A militant group called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, known as ISIS or ISIL, has taken control of some areas in Iraq and Syria and has killed two American journalists. How much have you heard or read about ISIS and their actions: a lot, some or not much?" A lot Some Not much Nothing at all (vol.)   % % % %   10/3-6/14 56 31 12 1   9/12-15/14 48 33 18 2   "Do you think the militant group ISIS is a threat to the security of the United States, or not?" If yes: "Do you think it is a major threat or a minor threat?" Yes: A major threat Yes: A minor threat Not a threat Unsure/ No answer   % % % %   10/3-6/14 61 21 14 4   9/12-15/14 58 21 16 4   "Do you think Barack Obama has a clear plan for dealing with ISIS militants, or not?" Yes No Unsure/ No answer     % % %     10/3-6/14 36 56 8     9/12-15/14 35 55 10     "Do you favor or oppose U.S. airstrikes against ISIS militants in IRAQ?" Favor Oppose Unsure/ No answer     % % %     10/3-6/14 73 21 7     9/12-15/14 71 21 8     "Do you favor or oppose U.S. airstrikes against ISIS militants in SYRIA?" Favor Oppose Unsure/ No answer     % % %     10/3-6/14 72 20 8     9/12-15/14 69 21 9     "Do you favor or oppose the U.S. sending ground troops into Iraq or Syria to fight ISIS militants?" Favor Oppose Unsure/ No answer     % % %     10/3-6/14 44 50 5     9/12-15/14 39 55 6     "Do you think the United States will be able to remove the threat from ISIS militants using airstrikes alone, or do you think ground troops will be necessary in order to remove the threat from ISIS militants?" Airstrikes alone Ground troops necessary Unsure/ No answer     % % %     10/3-6/14 21 65 15     "How concerned are you that U.S. intervention in Iraq and Syria will lead to a long and costly involvement there: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not at all concerned?" Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not too concerned Not at all concerned Unsure/ No answer % % % % % 10/3-6/14 53 34 7 4 2 9/12-15/14 40 43 12 4 2 "Which comes closest to your view about U.S. airstrikes against ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria? The U.S. is currently at war. OR, The U.S. is involved in a military action, but it is not at war." Options rotated At war Not at war Unsure/ No answer     % % %     10/3-6/14 40 56 3     "Do you think it is necessary for Congress to approve military action against ISIS militants in Syria, or do you think President Obama has the authority to take military action against ISIS militants in Syria without getting approval of Congress?" Options rotated Needs Congress President has the authority Unsure/ No answer     % % %     10/3-6/14 62 33 5     "Congress is currently in recess and will return after the November midterm elections. Do you think Congress should return to Washington now and debate the issue of U.S. military action against ISIS, or don't you think this is necessary?" Should return now Not necessary Unsure/ No answer     % % %     10/3-6/14 80 17 3