These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
There Are Just Some Countries Most Americans Don't Want To Defend
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thirteen percent (13%) of Americans say the United States should provide military assistance to North Korea to help that country defend itself if it is attacked.
Surprised? The identical number (13%) say we should do the same for Iran and China, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
But the overwhelming majority of Americans say "no way" to military assistance for any of the countries that are viewed by many as enemies of the United States .
In fact, there are just five countries that most Americans are willing to help defend from a list of 18 nations around the globe that are regularly in the news .
Seventy-four percent (74%) of Americans oppose military assistance to either North Korea or Iran in the event they are attacked, but in both cases, another 13% are not sure whether we should help them or not.
However, 49% of Americans said in May that if Israel attacked Iran over the latter's nuclear weapons program , the United States should help Israel. Just two percent (2%) believed we should help Iran.
Seventy-two percent (72%) are against any U.S. military assistance to China if it should be attacked, with 15% more undecided.
In February, though, 43% of U.S. voters agreed with Secretary of State Hillary 
The continuing love/hate relationship between America and post-Soviet Russia continues, with 72% opposed to helping that nation out should it be attacked. Fifteen percent (15%) think the United States should give Russia military assistance to help defend itself, while 13% are not sure.
But then just 22% of voters trust Russia to honor its agreement with the United States in July to cut its nuclear weapons stockpile.
Still-Communist Vietnam gets no slack from Americans either. While 19% favor military aid to that country if it needs it, 64% are opposed, with 16% unsure. Thirty-four years after the end of the Vietnam war, Americans are evenly divided over whether Vietnam is an ally or still an enemy of the United States .
Venezuela, with its U.S.-hating president Hugo Chavez, comes next: 25% say America should help defend his country, while 56% say no. Still, nearly one-out-of-five (19%) aren't sure if we should help or not.
Since Americans see more enemies than friends in the Middle East, it's not surprising that they aren't eager to assist countries in that region militarily. After all, U.S. military action is going on in at least three of those countries already.
Americans oppose helping Saudi Arabia defend itself by a 59% to 26% margin. Opposition is similar in Pakistan (49% to 29%), Iraq (57% to 30%) and Afghanistan (50% to 33%). The highest level of indecision regards Pakistan, with 21% not sure which course is best to follow.
Twenty percent (20%) of voters think all American troops should be brought home from Afghanistan right away, and another 17% say a firm timetable should be established to bring all troops home within a year . Yet only 33% expect U.S. forces to be out of Afghanistan by the end of Obama's first term in office .
Egypt is the one Middle Eastern country that Americans clearly have mixed feelings about. While 41% oppose military assistance to Egypt if it is attacked, 38% favor such aid, and another 21% are undecided.
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To view the original report, please use this link: You're On Your Own, Baby!