Concerning the war on terror, or as the Obama administration calls it, “overseas contingency operations,” Americans don’t feel it’s going well. In fact, a new CNN/ORC poll found that more Americans “are more likely to say that terrorists are winning the war against the United States than they have been at any point since the September 11 attacks.” Moreover, 74 percent are not satisfied by how the war on terror is going, with three percent saying they’re very satisfied (who are these people?). Sixty percent disapprove of the way Obama’s been handling the issue of terrorism, while 52 percent disapprove of his job performance overall. Yet, regarding the war on terror, the dissatisfaction crosses party lines:
While less than half of Americans say the terrorists are winning, the current 40% who do believe that is 17 points above the previous high of 23% reached in August 2005. Another 40% say neither side has an advantage, and just 18% say today that the U.S. and its allies have the upper hand -- 10 points off the previous low for that measure, reached in January 2007.Majority dissatisfaction with the war on terrorism crosses party lines, with even a majority of Democrats, 59%, expressing unease with the case prosecuted by the Obama White House. Seventy-nine percent of independents and 86% of Republicans also say they are dissatisfied with how it has fared.
A majority of Republicans, 55%, say they think the terrorists are winning, while most Democrats, 52%, feel neither side has an edge.
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Yet worries that a terrorist attack could hit home are at their highest level since 2005. Only about half express confidence that the Obama administration can protect U.S. citizens from future acts of terrorism. Overall, 45% say they are very or somewhat worried that they or someone in their family will become a victim of terrorism.
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Don’t be shocked if terrorism becomes one of the main issues on the 2016 trail next year.
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