Poll: Most Americans Not Anxious to Get Involved in Foreign Entanglements
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The upheavals overseas have made Americans more skittish about any kind of U.S. military involvement, according to a new POLITICO survey.
For instance, 67 percent of those polled say that military action should only be taken when there is a direct threat to national security. Only 22 percent believe that the U.S. should be compelled to act whenever democracy is threatened elsewhere.
The survey of 834 adults, which was taken before Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed over eastern Ukraine, found that just 17 percent feel the U.S. should do more to help the central government in Kiev, while 34 percent want less involvement and three in ten contend the current policy is correct.
In regards to Afghanistan, nearly three-quarters agree on the timetable to withdraw all U.S. forces from the country. Twenty-three percent oppose a complete withdrawal.
As for Iraq, 51 percent believe the worsening situation there has little or no effect on national security, while 42 percent says it affects national security “a lot.”
Another source of concern is the ongoing civil war in Syria, although just 15 percent believe the U.S. should do more. Meanwhile, 68 percent agree with the present U.S. policy or think it should be limited further.
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