Poll: Americans Oppose U.S. Military Intervention
Despite the interventionist sentiment driving the two largest U.S.
political parties and their presidential candidates, it seems a substantial
majority of Americans favor a libertarian-style U.S. foreign policy of
non-intervention. A majority even oppose military intervention in defense
of countries with which the U.S. has defense treaties, including South
Korea, Taiwan, and Israel.
That's the startling results of a poll conducted by NewsMax.com/Zogby in
late February. Zogby - one of the most respected polling organizations in
the country -- asked 1,155 Americans: "If attacked by another country,
should the U.S. help defend militarily, even though it could cost American
soldiers their lives, . . ." and then listed these nations/political
entities: Kosovo, Israel, Taiwan, South Korea and Kuwait.
*Remarkably, in every case, a significant majority of respondents opposed
using the U.S. military to intervene in conflicts in these places.* And
opposition to military intervention cut through party lines. A majority of
self-identified Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all opposed
intervention in every case asked. The NewsMax.com/Zogby poll had a
statistical margin of error +/- 3%.
Here are the percentages supporting or opposing U.S. intervention, broken
down by the country/political entity in question:
Taiwan: Yes - 31%; No - 69%.
Israel: Yes - 41%; No - 59%.
Kuwait: Yes - 29%; No - 71%.
South Korea: Yes - 28%; No - 72%.
Kosovo: Yes - 26%; No - 74%.
(Source: NewsMax.com/Zogby Poll, released Thursday, March 2, 1999)
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