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

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Time/CNN Poll conducted by Harris Interactive. Sept. 27, 2001. N=1,055 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"Do you think George Bush's reaction to the terrorist attack has been too strong, not strong enough, or would you say it has been just about right?"
9/27 9/13
% %
Too strong 5 3
Not strong enough 17 23
Just about right 74 71
Not sure 4 3

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"Based on what you have heard or read, do you think the Bush Administration does or does not have a clear and well thought out policy to deal with terrorism?"
%
Does 67
Does not 27
Not sure 6

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"Do you favor or oppose the use of U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan?"
%
Favor 64
Oppose 28
Not sure 8

 

Pew Research Center survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Sept. 21-25, 2001. N=1,488 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"Now a few questions about the terrorist attacks. If you had to choose, what should get a higher priority now: building our defenses at home to prevent future terrorist attacks, or, taking military action to destroy terrorist networks around the world?"
%
Building our defenses at home 33
Taking military action 44
Both (vol.) 16
Don't know 7

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"How confident are you that U.S. forces will be able to complete their mission to destroy terrorist networks around the world? Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?"
%
Very confident 39
Somewhat confident 37
Not too confident 15
Not at all confident 5
Don't know 4

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"Which is your greater concern: that we will take military action against the terrorists TOO QUICKLY, or that we will wait TOO LONG to take military action?"
%
Act too quickly 34
Wait too long 49
Don't know 17

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"How important to you is it that our military actions against the terrorists PUNISH them for their attacks against the U.S.: very important, fairly important, not very important, or not at all important?"
%
Very important 79
Fairly important 11
Not very important 4
Not at all important 2
Don't know 4

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"How important to you is it that our military actions against the terrorists PREVENT them from making future attacks against the U.S.: very important, fairly important, not very important, or not at all important?"
%
Very important 88
Fairly important 7
Not very important 1
Not at all important 1
Don't know 3

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"Do you think we are getting the support that we need from our traditional allies around the world for our plans to take action against terrorist organizations, or not?"
%
We are 74
We are not 15
Don't know 11

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"What's your impression? Do you think that many people in Europe and other western nations believe the U.S. itself bears some responsibility for the hatred that led to the terrorist attacks, or don't you think many of them feel this way?"
%
Yes, they believe U.S. bears some responsibility 38
No, they don't feel this way 47
Don't know 15

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"What's your impression? Do you think that many people in the Middle East and other non-western nations believe the U.S. itself bears some responsibility for the hatred that led to the terrorist attacks, or don't you think many of them feel this way?"
%
Yes, they believe U.S. bears some responsibility 59
No, they don't feel this way 27
Don't know 14

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"On a related topic: President Bush promised not to spend the Social Security surplus except in times of economic distress or war. What about now after the terrorist attacks? Do you think President Bush still should not spend the Social Security surplus or should Bush spend the surplus in response to the attacks?"
%
Still should not spend the surplus 53
Should spend the surplus 37
Don't know 10

 

Harris Poll. Sept. 19-24, 2001. N=1,012 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"Here are some increased powers of investigation that law enforcement agencies might use when dealing with people suspected of terrorist activity, which would also affect our civil liberties. For each, please say if you would favor or oppose it. . . ."
Favor Oppose Not
Sure
% % %
"Stronger document and physical security checks for access to government and private office buildings"
92 7 1

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"Use of facial-recognition technology to scan for suspected terrorists at various locations and public events"
86 11 2

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"Issuance of a secure I.D. technique for persons to access government and business computer systems, to avoid disruptions"
84 11 4

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"Now, here are some concerns that people might have about the way these increased powers might be used by law enforcement. Would you say you have high concern, moderate concern, not much concern, or no concern at all about each of the following possibilities? . . ."
High Moder-
ate		 Not
Much		 None
At All

Not
Sure
% % % %

%
"There would be broad profiling of people and searching them based on their nationality, race or religion"
44 33 11 10 1

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"The mail, telephone, e-mails or cell-phone calls of innocent people would be checked"
45 27 13 14 1

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"Non-violent critics of government policies would have their mail, telephone, e-mails or cell-phone calls checked"
38 33 14 14 -

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"New surveillance powers would be used to investigate crimes other than terrorism"
32 35 15 16 1

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"Right now do you think that most [see below] sympathize more with the United States or with those who attacked us?"
With
U.S.		 With
Attackers		 Neither
(vol.)		 Not
Sure
% % % %
American Muslims 76 11 3 10
Arab-Americans 73 13 2 10
Governments of Islamic countries 45 35 4 15
Muslims in other countries 42 38 3 17
Arabs in the Middle East 29 50 4 16

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"Which ONE of the following do you think is the main reason why those who attacked us and their supporters hate the United States? . . . "
%
"Our democracy and freedom" 26
"Our support for Israel" 22
"Our values and way of life" 20
"Our influence on the economy and lives of Middle Eastern countries" 17
"Our economic and military power" 11
Not sure 4

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"How would you rate the job [see below] has done since the attacks: excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"
Excellent/
Pretty
Good		 Only Fair/
Poor		 Not
Sure
% % %
New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani 93 3 4
President George Bush 91 9 1
Secretary of State Colin Powell 89 5 5
The Congress 88 10 2
New York Governor George Pataki 83 4 13
Vice President Dick Cheney 74 14 12

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"Would you like to see the twin towers of the World Trade Center rebuilt as they were, would you prefer to see completely different buildings there, or should there be a monument and no building?"
%
Rebuilt as they were 32
Completely different buildings 31
A monument and no building 30
Not sure 7

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"First some questions about the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Do you think many other countries will support the United States if we take strong military action against those who are shown to have planned or supported the attacks, or not?"
%
Will support 88
Will not 7
Not sure 5

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"As the U.S. government plans its response to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, how important do you think it is that the United States build a strong international coalition of many countries to support us, even if this means exercising more restraint than we'd like: very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?"
%
Very important 79
Somewhat important 16
Not very important 2
Not at all important 1
Not sure 2

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"How important do you think it is to provide the world with strong evidence of the guilt of any target before we attack it: very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?"
%
Very important 62
Somewhat important 25
Not very important 6
Not at all important 6
Not sure 1

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"How important do you think it is that we get the support of the United Nations -- including a vote of the Security Council -- supporting our response to the attacks, even if this means exercising more restraint than we'd like: very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?"
%
Very important 54
Somewhat important 30
Not very important 8
Not at all important 6
Not sure 2

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"How important do you think it is that we get the support of as many Arab and Islamic countries as possible: very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?"
%
Very important 58
Somewhat important 30
Not very important 5
Not at all important 6
Not sure 1

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Sept. 20-23, 2001. N=1,216 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?"
Approve Disap-
prove		 Don't
Know
% % %
9/20-23/01 90 6 4
9/13-14/01 85 7 8
9/12/01 76 9 15

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"Do you think George W. Bush has strong qualities of leadership, or not?"
Yes No Don't
Know
% % %
9/20-23/01 83 14 3
9/13-14/01 70 19 11
9/12/01 65 24 11
6/01 54 38 8

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9/20-23 9/13-14 9/12 9/11
% % % %
"How much confidence do you have in the ability of the U.S. government to catch the people who planned the attacks? Would you say you're very confident they will be caught, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?"
Very confident 56 62 55 53
Somewhat confident 36 29 35 38
Not too confident 6 5 6 5
Not at all confident 1 1 3 3
Don't know 1 3 1 1

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"Do you think the U.S. should take military action against whoever is responsible for the attacks?"
Yes 92 85
No 5 6
Don't know 3 8

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"Do you think the U.S. should take military action against whoever is responsible for the attacks, even if it means that innocent people are killed?"
Yes 67 68 71 66
No 23 17 18 20
Don't know 10 15 11 14

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"What if that meant going to war with a nation that is harboring those responsible for the attacks, then do you think the United States should take military action against whoever is responsible for the attacks?"
Yes 83 67
No 10 18
Don't know 7 15

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"What if that meant that many thousands of innocent civilians may be killed, then do you think the United States should take military action against whoever is responsible for the attacks?"
Yes 68
No 21
Don't know 11

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"What if that meant that thousands of American military personnel will be killed, then do you think the United States should take military action against whoever is responsible for the attacks?"
Yes 72
No 18
Don't know 10

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"What if that meant that the United States could be engaged in a war for many years, then do you think the United States should take military action against whoever is responsible for the attacks?"
Yes 72
No 20
Don't know 8

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"Would you say you personally are very concerned about a terrorist attack in the area where you live, or not?"
Yes 32 39 36 43
No 66 59 62 56
Don't know 2 2 2 1

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"Do you think the United States SHOULD return to business as usual as soon as possible, or is it important to take more time before that happens?"
As soon as possible 85 59
Take more time 12 31
Mixed (vol.) 1 6
Don't know 2 4

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"Do you think the United States IS ready now to return to business as usual, or is it too soon for that?"
Is ready now 67 37
Too soon for that 25 47
Some ready/Some not (vol.) 5 10
Don't know 3 6

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"Are you a frequent air traveler, do you fly only occasionally, or have you never flown?"
Frequent 14
Occasionally 70
Never flown 15
Don't know 1

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Asked of frequent and occasional flyers:
"Would you be willing or not willing to arrive three hours early for any flight you might be taking within the United States?"
Willing 85
Not willing 13
Don't know 2

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"In order to reduce the threat of terrorism, would you favor or oppose having more security checkpoints with guards and metal detectors at public events and public buildings, even if that meant you personally would spend at least an hour or more waiting in line and going through security checkpoints every time?"
Favor 87 86
Oppose 11 11
Don't know 2 3

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"In order to reduce the threat of terrorism, would you be willing or not willing to allow government agencies to monitor the telephone calls and e-mail of ordinary Americans on a regular basis?"
Willing 45 39
Not willing 51 53
Don't know 4 8

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"How likely do you think it is now that Arab Americans, Muslims and immigrants from the Middle East will be singled out unfairly by people in this country: very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely or not at all likely?"
Very likely 50 46
Somewhat likely 40 41
Not too likely 7 8
Not at all likely 2 3
Don't know 1 2

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"Do you think Arab Americans are more sympathetic to terrorists than other American citizens are, or not?"
Are more sympathetic 26 28
Are not 62 51
Don't know 12 21

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Sept. 20-21, 2001. N=1,005 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"Please tell how much confidence you have in each of the following to deal with this situation. How much confidence do you have in [see below]: a lot of confidence, some, only a little, or no confidence at all?"
A Lot Some A
Little		 None Don't
Know
% % % % %
Secretary of State Colin Powell
77 15 4 1 3

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George W. Bush 68 20 7 4 1

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Vice President Dick Cheney
51 26 11 5 7

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Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
49 28 8 2 13

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National security advisor Condoleeza Rice
39 29 9 3 20

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"Looking to the future, do you think the terrorist attacks will do more to change our country for the better by making it stronger and more united, OR, change our country for the worse by reducing freedom and prosperity, and threatening the American way of life?"
%
Change for the better 79
Change for the worse 14
Neither (vol.) 2
Don't know 5

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"Now I'm going to read you a list of different things that might have motivated terrorists to attack the United States. As I read each one, please tell me if you think it is a major reason, a minor reason or not a reason why terrorists have targeted the U.S. What about [see below]? Is this a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason (why terrorists have targeted the U.S.)?"
Major Minor Not a
Reason		 Don't
Know
% % % %
"Opposition to U.S. ties to Israel and U.S. policies toward the Palestinian situation"
68 21 5 6

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"Resentment of U.S. military and economic power in general"
64