“While U.S. drone strikes have faced new scrutiny in recent weeks, a majority of the public continues to support the program. Overall, 56 percent approve of the U.S. conducting missile strikes from pilotless aircraft to target extremists in countries such as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia; just 26 percent say they disapprove,” notes a survey released Monday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
Amazingly enough, the political parties almost agree on this. Almost.
The pollsters found that 68 percent of Republicans and 58 percent of Democrats approve of the strikes.
Partisan opinion diverges elsewhere in the survey:
53 percent of Americans overall are concerned the strikes could endanger civilians; 37 percent of Republicans and 65 percent of Democrats agree.
32 percent overall are concerned the strikes could lead to retaliation from extremists; 22 percent of Republicans and 38 percent of Democrats agree.
31 percent overall are concerned that the strikes are conducted legally; 24 percent of Republicans and 33 percent of Democrats agree.
26 percent overall are concerned the strikes could “damage America’s reputation”; 16 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of Democrats agree.
The poll of 1,004 U.S. adults was conducted Feb. 7-10.
(www.people-press.org)
