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 CBS NEWS POLLFor release: Friday, November 11, 20116:30 PM (ET)Americans’ Views on Foreign Policy Issues andAssessments of Republican Candidates
November 6-10, 2011After long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, this poll finds Americans are now reluctant to engagemilitarily with other countries. Most say the U.S. did not do the right thing becoming involved inAfghanistan, and a majority says the war in Iraq was not worth the costs. Majorities ofAmericans think threats from Iran and North Korea can be contained with diplomacy. Seven in10 think the U.S. should not engage in changing dictatorships to democracies. Republicanshold similar views, but are more apt to view the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan positively.At the same time, most Americans (and most Republicans) approve of attacks against terroristsoverseas, and want the prison at Guantanamo Bay kept open. 70% of Republicans (but just45% of Americans overall) think the use of interrogation techniques such as waterboarding issometimes justified.There is strong support from Americans for Israel – and that support is even higher amongRepublicans. Nearly half of Republicans oppose awarding statehood to Palestine. And whileChina’s economic growth is widely seen as bad for the U.S., most see that country as friendly tothe U.S. or an ally.
The Republican Field
Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are the top picks when it comes to key foreign policycharacteristics. Republican primary voters say Mitt Romney is the candidate most qualified tobe commander-in-chief (26%), followed by Newt Gingrich (21%) and Herman Cain (11%).But Newt Gingrich is the candidate Republicans most trust to handle an international crisis(31%), followed by Romney (19%) and then Cain (8%).Neither Rick Perry’s military service nor Jon Huntsman’s experience as ambassador have giveneither candidate a boost on these measures.
Which Candidate…
(Among Republican Primary Voters)Most Qualified to be Trust Most to HandleCommander-in-Chief International CrisisMitt Romney 26% 19%Newt Gingrich 21 31Herman Cain 11 8Rick Perry 9 9Michele Bachmann 5 3Ron Paul 4 3Rick Santorum 2 3Jon Huntsman 2 4Don’t know 15 15
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 Afghanistan
Assessing the situation.
It’s been 10 years since the U.S. went to war in Afghanistan; half of Americans say the U.S.should not be involved there now, while 36% think fighting in Afghanistan is the right thing to do.The last time a majority of Americans thought the U.S. was doing the right thing in Afghanistanwas in 2009.
U.S. Doing the Right Thing Fighting in Afghanistan?
Now 9/2011 6/2011 9/2010 10/2009Right thing 36% 34% 35% 38% 51%Not be involved 53 57 58 54 39Among Republicans, nearly half say the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting in Afghanistan,compared to just 29% of Democrats and 33% of independents.
U.S. Doing the Right Thing Fighting in Afghanistan?
Total Reps Dems IndsRight thing 36% 48% 29% 33%Not be involved 53 43 62 52Still, more Americans think the war in Afghanistan is going well (48%) than think it is going badly(42%). Republicans and Democrats agree on this measure.
How Are Things Going for the U.S. in Afghanistan?
Now 9/2011
 
6/2011
 
10/2010 11/2009 3/2009
 
Well 48% 40% 53% 38% 23% 33%Badly 42 53 40 55 69 57
Should the U.S. draw down troops? 
Most Americans continue to want U.S. troops to start coming home from Afghanistan. 58%support decreasing the number of troops there. In 2009, as discussions to deploy additionaltroops to Afghanistan were underway, about a third supported increasing the number of U.S.troops there.
Should U.S. Troops in Afghanistan be…?
Now 9/2011 6/2011 11/2009 4/2009Increased 8% 7% 8% 32% 36%Kept the same 27 24 22 20 23Decreased 58 62 64 39 29Democrats are more likely than Republicans and independents to support decreasing trooplevels in Afghanistan.
Should U.S. Troops in Afghanistan be…?
Total Reps Dems IndsIncreased 8% 10% 6% 7%Kept the same 27 36 19 27Decreased 58 47 68 56
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Pakistan
Osama bin Laden was found in Pakistan, and the U.S. has been conducting drone attacks thereto root out terrorists. More than six in 10 Americans describe Pakistan as either unfriendly to theU.S. (39%) or an enemy (24%). Just 21% call Pakistan friendly to the U.S., and only 2% see itas an ally. Views are similar across party lines.
Do you Consider Pakistan…?
Total Reps Dems IndsAn ally 2% 2% 1% 2%Friendly but not an ally 21 21 21 21Unfriendly 39 42 36 39An enemy 24 26 26 22
Iran
Most Americans support a diplomatic approach when it comes to dealing with Iran; 55% thinkIran is a threat to the U.S. that can be contained with diplomacy. Only 15% say Iran is a threatthat requires military action now, and another 17% do not consider Iran a threat.Americans across the political spectrum support diplomacy with Iran rather than military action,but Republicans are more than twice as likely as Democrats to say Iran is a threat that requiresmilitary action.
How Great a Threat is Iran?
Total Reps Dems IndsRequires military action now 15% 22% 10% 14%Can be contained with diplomacy 55 52 60 53Not a threat at this time 17 17 17 16
Iraq
Should U.S. troops come home? 
President Obama recently announced that U.S. troops will come home from Iraq by the end ofthe year. 77% of Americans approve of this action; just 17% disapprove. Majorities of allpartisan stripes want U.S. troops to come by the end of the year, including 63% of Republicans.
Remove U.S. Troops from Iraq by End of 2011
Total Reps Dems IndsApprove 77% 63% 94% 73%Disapprove 17 29 5 19
Was the Iraq war worth it? 
Looking back, 67% of Americans do not think the result of the Iraq war was worth the loss ofAmerican life and other costs of the war; just 24% say it was. Views have been similar for morethan two years.
Was Result of the Iraq War Worth the Costs?
Total Reps Dems IndsYes 24% 42% 14% 21%No 67 49 81 67
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