Peace and Security

In U.S., More Support for Increasing Troops in Afghanistan

Americans now tilt slightly toward sending in new troops as opposed to reducing number

December 2, 2009

Nearly half of Americans (47%) would now advise President Obama to increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, while 39% would advise him to reduce U.S. troop levels. Earlier this month, Americans tilted more toward a troop reduction than a troop increase, 44% to 42%.More ...

Americans Split on Afghanistan Troop Increase vs. Decrease

Thirty-five percent support Gen. McChrystal’s recommendation for 40,000 additional troops

November 12, 2009

Forty-two percent of Americans believe President Barack Obama should increase U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan, either by the roughly 40,000 Gen. Stanley McChrystal recommended (35%) or by a smaller amount (7%). However, slightly more Americans, 44%, favor a reduction of U.S. troops in that country.More ...

Yemenis’ Attitudes Toward Gov’t Split North/South

Residents in the South less confident in institutions, job creation

September 17, 2009

Nearly 20 years after Yemen’s unification, Gallup finds distinct differences in attitudes along North-South lines. Yemenis in the South are less likely than those in the North to express faith in nearly every institution asked about and to be satisfied with efforts to deal with the poor and create quality jobs.More ...

Before Attacks, Indonesians Commended Anti-Terror Efforts

Sixty-eight percent said government doing enough to fight terrorism

July 24, 2009

Indonesians surveyed only a few months before the bombings in Jakarta last week gave their government high marks on combating terrorism. More than two-thirds of Indonesians (68%) said their government was doing enough, which is up markedly from 51% two years ago.More ...

Americans Expect Security in Iraq to Worsen After Pullout

While 58% say security will worsen, only 27% expect it to get “a lot” worse

July 2, 2009

A majority of Americans (58%) expect security in Iraq to worsen now that U.S. forces are leaving major cities and towns there and turning security over to the Iraqis. However, only 27% say security will get a lot worse. Most doubt the U.S. will fully withdraw, as agreed upon, by the end of 2011.More ...

Americans Remain Skeptical About Middle East Peace

Just 32% think Israel and Arabs will ever live in peace

June 4, 2009

President Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo comes at a time when only 32% of Americans think Israel and the Arab nations will ever be able to settle their differences and live in peace; 66% disagree.More ...

Pakistanis Generally See Taliban’s Influence as Negative

But many surveyed before offensive didn’t know or wouldn’t say

May 13, 2009

Before Pakistan’s recent military operation to dislodge the Taliban from the country’s North West Frontier Province, a Gallup Poll found nearly half of Pakistanis (47%) believed the Taliban’s presence has a negative influence, while 14% said it has a positive influence and 39% had no opinion.More ...

In U.S., More Optimism About Iraq, Less About Afghanistan

New high of 42% say war in Afghanistan a mistake

March 19, 2009

Americans’ views of the war in Afghanistan are now the most negative they have been, with 42% calling the war a “mistake.” Six years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, 52% of Americans still call that war a mistake, but the public’s optimism about the Iraq war has been on the upswing.More ...

Americans See Afghanistan War as Still Worth Fighting

Though many would like faster withdrawal of troops than is likely

February 19, 2009

Before President Barack Obama’s decision this week to send additional U.S. forces to Afghanistan, a majority of Americans (52%) perceived the situation there to be going very or moderately badly; 70% thought the Taliban would retake control if U.S. forces withdrew.More ...

Pakistanis Support Tougher Stance on Terrorism

Nearly half of citizens (49%) say their government isn’t doing enough

December 23, 2008

A Gallup Poll of Pakistanis in October found a solid majority (60%) saying the Pakistani government should take a tougher approach to rid their country of terrorist activities.More ...