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     Sept. 11, 2001 (War on Terrorism, p. 10)
Polls listed chronologically.

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Los Angeles Times Poll. Sept. 13-14, 2001. N=1,561 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"Thinking now about recent events -- How serious a problem is terrorism in the United States today: very serious, only somewhat serious or hardly serious at all?"
%
Very serious 87
Only somewhat serious 11
Hardly serious at all 1

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"Do you think that the terrorist attack last Tuesday will result in a fundamental change in the way Americans live their daily lives, or do you think that Americans will soon go back to business as usual?"
%
Fundamental change 57
Business as usual 39
Don't know 4

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"Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Bush is handling the terrorist attack and its aftermath?"
%
Approve 86
Disapprove 8
Don't know 6

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"Some top White House officials argued that President Bush should have returned to Washington, D.C., immediately after the attack on Tuesday to reassure the American people, while others urged him to follow the advice of the Secret Service to stay away from Washington and possible danger. What do you think? Should Bush have returned to Washington, D.C., immediately after the attack or was it appropriate for him to follow the advice of the Secret Service to stay away?"
%
Should have returned immediately 12
Appropriate to stay away 85
Don't know 3

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"In your opinion, is the United States now in a state of war, or not?"
%
In a state of war 68
Not in a state of war 25
Don't know 7

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"In the aftermath of the attack on Tuesday, stock markets around the world declined. Do you think the decline in the stock markets will have a long-term negative effect on the world's economy, including that of the United States, or do you think this a temporary setback and the economy will stabilize?"
%
Long-term negative effect 16
Temporary setback 73
Don't know 11

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"How much -- if any -- has the attack on the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon shaken your own personal sense of safety and security? Has it shaken it a great deal, a good amount, not too much or not at all?"
%
A great deal 31
A good amount 32
Not too much 26
Not at all 10
Don't know 1

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"In the future, do you expect attempts at terrorist acts like the ones we just experienced in New York and Washington, D.C., will be very common, somewhat common, not too common, or not at all common in this country?"
%
Very common 8
Somewhat common, 31
Not too common 39
Not at all common 14
Don't know 8

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"When it comes to the American intelligence agencies' ability to protect the United States, how much confidence do you have? Would you say you have a lot of confidence, some confidence, not too much confidence or no confidence at all?"
%
A lot 35
Some 45
Not too much 15
None at all 4
Don't know 1

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"Some people have said that this attack represents the biggest failure by American intelligence operations since Pearl Harbor. Do you think that this attack was something that government intelligence agencies should have been able to discover in advance or not?"
%
Should have been able 51
Should not have been 38
Don't know 11

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"How concerned are you that new measures enacted to fight terrorism in this country could end up restricting some of our civil liberties? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not concerned at all about that?"
%
Very concerned 20
Somewhat concerned 36
Not too concerned 26
Not concerned at all 17
Don't know 2

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"In order to curb terrorism in this country, do you think it will be necessary for the average person to give up some civil liberties, or not?"
%
Necessary 61
Not necessary 33
Don't know 6

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"Some people say that in order to fight terrorism, government agencies should be given broader powers to tap telephone lines and monitor cell phones and other wireless communications. Would you approve or disapprove of such a move?"
%
Approve 54
Disapprove 40
Don't know 6

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"Some people say that in order to fight terrorism, government agencies should be given broader powers to monitor Internet communications and be given the legal authority to read all private e-mails. Would you approve or disapprove of such a move?"
%
Approve 50
Disapprove 45
Don't know 5

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"Some people say that in order to fight terrorism, law enforcement should be allowed to randomly stop people who may fit the profile of suspected terrorists. Would you approve or disapprove of such a move?"
%
Approve 68
Disapprove 29
Don't know 3

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"Turning your attention now to airport security: In your opinion, do you feel that United States airports are doing enough to secure the safety of passengers or are they doing too little?"
%
Enough 14
Too little 82
Don't know 4

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"Transportation, airline and airport officials have taken measures to tighten airport security in the United States due to the terrorist attack last Tuesday. Some of the procedures are thorough searches of all planes and airports; no curbside check-ins or check-in from hotels; allowing only passengers to pass through security checkpoints; a ban on all knives; uniformed police patrols of airports; no more use of electronic tickets; checks of passengers using hand-held metal detectors, and armed marshals aboard airplanes. These measures may result in longer check-in times. Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of these security measures?"
%
Approve 95
Disapprove 4
Don't know 1

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"Senator McCain and others have alleged that the country's intelligence operations have become less effective over the past decade. They say this is the result of fewer covert operations abroad and lack of expertise to analyze intelligence data here in the United States. Do you think support of American intelligence operations should be a higher national budget priority than it is now, a lower budget priority or is it about the right level of priority now?"
%
Higher 71
Lower 2
Right level 19
Don't know 8

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Asked of those who answered "Higher":
"Would you support funding intelligence operations at a higher level even if that means higher taxes for all Americans, or not?"
%
Yes 85
No 9
Depends (vol.) 3
Don't know 3

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"Would you support funding intelligence operations at a higher level even if that means reduced government benefits, such as health care, farm aid or dipping into the Social Security fund, or not?"
%
Yes 36
No 52
Depends (vol.) 6
Don't know 6

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"Which statement comes closer to your view? [Rotate:] The United States has a responsibility to fight violations of international law and aggression around the world even without the cooperation of its allies. OR, The United States should work only in a coordinated effort with its allies to fight violations of international law and aggression around the world."
%
Fight alone 34
Fight with allies 59
Shouldn't be involved at all (vol.) 1
Don't know 6

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"Do you think the terrorist attack last Tuesday was a direct result of United States'   policy of intervention around the world, or not?"
%
Was a direct result 47
Was not 36
Partially (vol.) 6
Don't know 11

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"Specifically, do you think the terrorist attack last Tuesday was a direct result of United States' policy in the Middle East or not?"
%
Was a direct result 58
Was not 23
Partially (vol.) 7
Don't know 12

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"The United States is saying that it is fairly certain that Osama bin Laden was responsible for the attack on the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon last Tuesday. Bin Laden is an exiled Saudi militant with extreme anti-American views who is allegedly being protected by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. If it is determined that Osama bin Laden was responsible for the terrorist attack, do you think he and his organization will be caught and brought to justice or not?"
%
Will be 70
Will not be 19
Don't know 11

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"If it is also determined that the Taliban ruling party in Afghanistan is harboring Osama bin Laden, would you support the United States and its allies retaliating with military action against Afghanistan, even if it could result in civilian casualties, or would you oppose that?"
%
Support 82
Oppose 11
Don't know 7

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"What about Osama bin Laden's organization itself? Do you think the United States should retaliate against Bin Laden's group through military action, or should the United States pursue justice by bringing him to trial in the United States?"
%
Military action 69
Bring him to trial 25
Don't know 6

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"In light of Tuesday's attack, should the United States toughen restrictions on visas for foreign students and other visitors to the United States?"
%
Yes 84
No 12
Don't know 4

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Sept. 13-14, 2001. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"How confident are you that national and local law enforcement agencies in the United States are capable of breaking up terrorist plots by radical groups here? Are you [see below]?"
%
Very confident 32
Somewhat confident 42
Not too confident 17
Not at all confident 7
Don't know 2

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"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush has handled the situation resulting from Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.?"
%
Approve 89
Disapprove 8
Don't know 3

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"Do you think George W. Bush has come across as a strong leader in the way he has handled the situation resulting from the terrorist attacks, or not?"
%
Yes 83
No 13
Don't know 4

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"Do you think New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has come across as a strong leader in the way he has handled the situation resulting from the terrorist attacks, or not?"
%
Yes 89
No 5
Don't know 6

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"How worried are you that the financial and psychological effects of the terrorist attacks will SERIOUSLY hurt [see below]: very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not at all worried?"
Very Some-
what		 Not
Too		 Not
At All		 Don't
Know
% % % % %
"The U.S. economy" 24 39 24 12 1
"The world economy" 20 43 23 12 2
"Stock prices and the value of people's investment portfolios" 21 40 24 12 3

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"Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement, or if you have no opinion either way: The U.S. should reduce its ties to Israel in order to lessen the acts of terrorism against us."
%
Agree 32
Disagree 50
Don't know 18

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"Which ONE of the following statements comes closer to your own view of how the terrorist attacks should affect U.S. spending priorities? They make it more important to spend the money necessary to develop the anti-missile shield President Bush has proposed to protect against attacks by a terrorist group or rogue nation. OR, They make it more important to spend the money instead on improving airport and building security, and for better intelligence operations and technology to identify terrorist plots."
%
More important to develop anti-missile shield 18
More important to spend on other security 71
Neither (vol.) 4
Don't know 7

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"How much of the blame, if any, do you think each of the following deserves for allowing this week’s terrorist attacks to happen? What about [see below]? Does this deserve a lot of the blame, some, only a little, or none?"
A Lot Some A Little None Don't
Know
% % % % %
"Failure of the FBI and CIA's intelligence efforts to identify and stop terrorist plots from being carried out"
30 39 19 8 4

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"Inadequate security at airports to prevent terrorists from bringing weapons on planes"
57 27 9 5 2

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"Inadequate security systems to deal with hijackers while planes are in the air"
45 32 13 6 4

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"Thinking about a possible U.S. military response to the terrorist attacks, would you favor or oppose attacking people suspected of terrorism against the U.S. like Osama bin Laden EVEN IF we're not sure they're responsible for what happened this week?"
%
Favor 54
Oppose 40
Don't know 6

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"Thinking about a possible U.S. military response to the terrorist attacks, would you favor or oppose attacking terrorist bases and the countries that allow or support them EVEN IF there is a high likelihood of civilian casualties?"
%
Favor 71
Oppose 21
Don't know 8

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"In your opinion, how likely is it that more terrorist attacks will be carried out against major U.S. cities, buildings or national landmarks in the near future? Is it [see below]?"
%
Very likely 43
Somewhat likely 39
Not too likely 12
Not at all likely 3
Don't know 3

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"As a result of Tuesday's attacks do you personally feel a lot less safe where you live and work, somewhat less safe, only a little less safe, or not at all less safe than you did before?"
%
A lot less 12
Somewhat less 24
A little less 27
Not at all less 36
Don't know 1

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"In response to the terrorist attacks, do you think the United States should put Arabs and Arab-Americans in this country under special surveillance, OR that it would be a mistake to target a nationality group, as was done with Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor?"
%
Put under special surveillance 32
A mistake to target a nationality group 62
Don't know 6

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Sept. 13, 2001. N=609 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4. Fieldwork by TNS Intersearch.

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"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling the U.S. response to this week's terrorist attacks?"
Approve Disapprove No
Opinion
% % %
9/13 91 7 2

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"Do you think the United States government did all it reasonably could do to try to prevent these attacks, or do you think it could have done more?"
Did All
 It Could		 Could Have
Done More		 No
Opinion
% % %
9/13 31 65 4
9/11 43 44 13

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"If the United States can identify the groups or nations responsible for today's attacks, would you support or oppose taking military action against them?"
Support Oppose No
Opinion
% % %
9/13 93 5 2
9/11 94 3 3

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"What if that meant getting into a war? In that case would you support or oppose taking military action?"
Support Oppose No
Opinion
NET % % %
9/13 86 11 3
9/11 86 7 4

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"What if it meant innocent civilians in other countries might be hurt or killed? In that case would you support or oppose taking military action?"
Support Oppose No
Opinion
NET % % %
9/13 77 19 4

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"What if it meant getting into a long war with large numbers of U.S. troops killed or injured? In that case would you support or oppose taking military action against the groups or nations responsible for these attacks?"
Support Oppose No
Opinion
NET % % %
9/13 69 26 5

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"As you may know, a man named Osama bin Laden, who reportedly lives in Afghanistan, has been indicted for directing previous terrorist attacks and is a suspect in Tuesday's attacks. If Afghanistan does not turn bin Laden over to the United States, would you support or oppose the United States' attacking Afghanistan militarily?"
Support Oppose No
Opinion
% % %
9/13 85 11 3

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"Just your best guess, do you think the United States will go to war as a result of Tuesday's attacks, or not?"
Will Will Not No
Opinion
% % %
9/13 66 30 4

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"How confident are you in the ability of the U.S. government to find and punish the people responsible for these attacks? Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?"
9/13 9/11
% %
Very confident 65 54
Somewhat confident 30 37