Only one in four Americans approves of ?U.S. strikes on Iran that have plunged the Middle East into chaos, while about half — including one in four Republicans — believe President Donald Trump is too willing to use military force, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Some 27% of respondents said they approved of the strikes, which were conducted alongside Israeli attacks on Iran, while 43% disapproved and 29% were not sure. About nine in 10 respondents said they had heard at least a little about the strikes, which began early on Saturday with a ?surprise attack that killed Iran’s leader.
The poll, which closed on Sunday, showed that 56% of Americans think Trump, who has also ordered strikes in Venezuela, Syria and Nigeria in recent months, is too willing to use military force to advance U.S. interests. ?The vast majority of Democrats – 87% – held this view, as did 23% of Republicans and 60% of people who don’t identify with either political party.
The poll was conducted amid ongoing attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, and closed before the U.S. military announced the first American casualties in the operation.
Four Six U.S. service members have been killed during the campaign, which prompted retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Iran on Israel and on U.S. military installations across the region. Three U.S. jets were shot down during combat missions, which the U.S. military said happened when they came under fire by mistake from Kuwaiti air defenses.
CONCERN ABOUT HARM TO TROOPS
While 55% of Republicans said they approved of the strikes and 13% disapproved, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found 42% in Trump’s party said they would be less likely ?to support the Iran campaign if it leads to “U.S. troops in the Middle East being killed or injured.”
Trump’s presidential approval rating ticked slightly lower to 39%, one percentage ?point below ?a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted February 18-23.
The strikes on Iran began three days before the first primaries of the U.S. midterm elections, which will determine whether Trump’s Republicans maintain their majorities in Congress for the next two years. Reuters/Ipsos polls have consistently shown that voters’ top concern heading into the elections is the economy, far more than foreign affairs.
WORRY OVER FUEL PRICES
Some 45% of poll respondents, including 34% of Republicans and 44% of independents, said they would be less likely ?to support the campaign against Iran if ?gas or oil prices increased ?in the United States.
Prices for Brent crude surged 10% to about $80 a barrel in over-the-counter trade on Sunday, oil traders said. Analysts predicted prices could climb as high as $100 due to the latest conflict.
The United States and Israel launched their ?strikes after negotiations in Geneva between the U.S. and Iran failed to secure a breakthrough over Tehran’s nuclear ?program.
Washington wants Iran to ?give up all uranium enrichment because it believes Tehran wants to build a nuclear bomb. Iran denies wanting a bomb and says it wants to process uranium to make fuel for atomic power plants.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll found about half of respondents – including a third of Democrats – said they would be more likely to support the strikes on Iran if they lead to the country giving up its nuclear program. Trump said on Sunday that Iran’s new leadership wants to talk to him and he has agreed, according to an interview with the Atlantic magazine.
The most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses online from 1,282 U.S. adults nationwide. It had a margin of error of three percentage points.
So, if Trump can conduct a war, that most Americans disapprove of, are we a democracy? I would argue that we are not. The basic tenant of a democracy is that the majority rules. Yet most Americans have opposed every war since Viet Nam, but we have fought and died in them anyway. Most Americans want some form of public health care, but we don’t have it. And most Americans would like to know who is in those Epstein files and what they are accused of, but we don’t have that either. The problem is the US Senate. The constitution gives the Senate very important powers. The Senate gave us this Supreme Court, who has given Trump immunity and given corporations the right to buy our elections. The Senate confirmed all of Trump’s cabinet, who are now committing crimes against humanity, here and abroad. Do you know that as a voter in California, you have 1/67 of the influence, in the US Senate, as a voter in Wyoming? That a voter in Alabama has 7.8 times the voting power in the US Senate, that you have? It’s time for some democratic reform in America, and if we can’t get that, we should get out. Calexit
Well said..we are being ruled/ruined by the most backward states in the country..
Regrettably Trump is impulsive, blustering, & an old, never-served jingoist! Indeed, as to his lack of common sense, & concern for the well being of his fellow man, he will never hesitate to place others in harms way, but avoid possible personal injury or to any of his sons!
He is a gold plated, big mouth, rash braggart! and we who do or have served are his cannon
fodder ! Those who voted for him, stand up, volunteer for military service, and face fire with a smile!