Survey: 61% of U.S. respondents believe using military force against Iran is a mistake
Recent polling shows that President Trump's unpopularity over launching a war with Iran has reached levels comparable to those seen during the Vietnam War in the early 1970s and the most brutal phase of the Iraq War in 2006.
A survey conducted from April 24 to 28 by The Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos polled 2,560 adults nationwide online.
The Washington Post notes that 61% of American respondents believe using military force against Iran is a mistake; only 19% believe the military actions in Iran have been successful, while 39% consider them unsuccessful, and 41% say it’s too early to judge.
Both the Vietnam War and the Iraq War caused deep divisions within American society and are widely regarded as failures. By 1971, more than 50,000 U.S. troops had died in Vietnam, and a Gallup poll at the time showed that 61% of Americans believed sending troops to fight was a mistake.
President George W. Bush’s administration launched the Iraq War in March 2003. By April 2006, when the conflict had become bogged down and deadly and over 2,400 U.S. soldiers had died, a Washington Post/ABC News poll found that 59% of Americans considered the Iraq War a mistake.
Notably, just two months after the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, opposition to the war had already reached levels seen years into the Vietnam and Iraq wars—despite Pentagon claims that only 13 U.S. military personnel have died in the Iran conflict, far fewer than in the previous two wars.
The Trump administration argues one major goal of military action against Iran is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. However, 65% of respondents expressed no confidence that ending the war through agreement would prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons.
60% of respondents believe military action against Iran increases the risk of economic recession. Over 40% said rising fuel prices led them to drive less and cut household spending; over 30% reported changing their travel or vacation plans; and 60% said they’ve been affected by at least one of these impacts.
Americans are also concerned that military action against Iran could make them less safe. 61% believe it will increase the risk of terrorist attacks targeting Americans; 56% believe it will heighten the risk of deteriorating relations with allies.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864302480745484/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author