Plan To Battle Islamic Militants Draws Bipartisan Support

Republican and Democratic respondents to a recent poll expressed support for President Obama’s plan to use military force to defeat Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. According to the survey, conducted Sept. 11-14 by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 64 percent of all Republicans and 60 percent of all Democrats expressed support. Forty-seven percent of all Independent respondents also said they support the plan. Respondents were equally divided at 41 percent each as to whether the plan would go to far or not far enough. More Republicans (66 percent) are concerned the president’s plan will not; more Democrats (54 percent) are worried it will go too far. The survey also showed that a significant majority of respondents do not believe the military campaign will make the U.S. homeland any safer from terrorist attacks. Eighteen percent believe it will, while 34 percent think it would increase the likelihood of a future terrorist attack. Another 41 percent indicated the military action would not make a difference either way.