If Israel Attacks Iran, 49% Say U.S. Should Help
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Forty-nine percent (49%) of Americans say that if Israel launches an attack against Iran, the United States should help Israel. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 37% believe the United States should do nothing while just 2% believe the U.S. should help Iran.
Last summer , just 42% said the United States should help Israel while 46% said the nation should do nothing.
Sixty-four percent (64%) of Republicans say that the U.S. should help Israel as do 50% of those not affiliated with either major political party. A plurality of Democrats (44%) say that the U.S. should do nothing.
A separate survey released last summer showed that 78% of Americans believe it's likely that Iran will soon develop nuclear weapons. Only 43% believe it's possible for the U.S. to prevent that development. Sixty-six percent (66%) of all voters now say that preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons is more important than preventing war between Iran and Israel. That's up fourteen percentage points from 52% last July.
Just 23% now say preventing war between Iran and Israel is more important than stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
An earlier Rasmussen Reports survey found that 45% of likely voters agree that it is a good idea for the U.S. president to meet with the leader of Iran. However, 59% said the meeting should not take place until Iran stops developing nuclear weapons.
Last December, when fighting broke out between Israel and the Palestinians, most Americans placed the blame on the Palestinians.
Eighty-two percent (82%) of Americans say they've been following recent news stories about U.S. relations with Iran. That figure includes 40% who are following the story Very Closely.
Another recent survey found that a plurality of voters considered Iran a bigger threat to the United States than North Korea, Pakistan, or Afghanistan.
# # #
To view a copy of the original report, please use this link: Why Not Nuke Iran, Too?