Nearly 70 percent of Americans say they lackconfidence that the U.S. will achieve its goals in fighting the terrorist groupISIS, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Annenberg poll. Thefindings come in the wake of President Barack Obama\’s national addressannouncing new measures to combat the Sunni militants.
The poll – conducted before the latest execution emerged – showed that a combined 68 percent of Americans say they have “very little” or “just some”confidence that Obama\’s goals of degrading and eliminating thethreat posed by ISIS will be achieved. Just 28 percent said they had “a greatdeal” or “quite a bit” of confidence. Still, 62 percent of voters say theysupport Obama\’s decision to take action against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, while22 percent oppose it.
“The bottom line: The president has made his case tothe American public, and like other presidents who faced war and peace issues,support usually follows,” said Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who helpedconduct the survey. “The difference in this military encounter is that, rightout of the box, Americans are skeptical if this will work.”
The poll also shows that 38 percent of voters approveof Obama\’s job in handling foreign policy.
A separate survey that re-contacted respondents fromlast week\’s national NBC/WSJ poll after the president\’s speech found a slightincrease in the percentage of Americans who believe that military actionagainst ISIS is in the nation\’s interest, with a rise to 68 percent from 65percent.
-“The President has made his case to the American public”? ISIS is busy taking over Syria and Iraq, killing people by the thousands, beheading, crucifying and torturing people by the hundreds – maybe also thousands, telling us in so many words that it is going to hit us where we live (not much of a problem since this administration doesn\’t seem concerned about our border security)……and President Obama gets all of 62% approval for saying he will be taking action against them? That\’s making a case? That is NOT making a case.-“Americans are skeptical if this will work”? Barack Obama has been Commander In Chief for over 5 1/2 years, and this is his hastily-cobbled-together “strategy”, no one else\’s. Does skepticism that Mr. Obama can accomplish his objectives indicate he has made his case to the American public or he has not made it? Discuss.-Then there is that 38% of voters who approve of how President Obama handles foreign policy: less than one in four. Does that suggest he\’s made his case?
