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Poll: U.S. Isolationist Sentiment Surges to Four-Decade High

(Pew Research Center) In the midst of two wars abroad and a sour economy at home, there has been a sharp rise in isolationist sentiment among the public, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. For the first time in more than 40 years of polling, a plurality (49%) says the U.S. should "mind its own business internationally" and let other countries get along the best they can on their own. in December 2002, just 30% agreed with this statement. At the same time, there has been a rise in unilateralist sentiment. Fully 44% say that because the U.S. "is the most powerful nation in the world, we should go our own way in international matters, not worrying about whether other countries agree with us or not." That response, up from 25% in 2002, is by far the highest percentage agreeing since the question was first asked by Gallup in 1964. When asked which country represents the greatest danger to the U.S., more Americans cite Iran (21%) than any other country. 63% approve of the use of U.S. military force against Iran if it were certain that Iran had produced a nuclear weapon. 51% of the American public say they sympathize more with the Israelis, while just 12% say they sympathize more with the Palestinians. This compares with 34% for Israel and 13% for Palestinians in 1990.
2009-12-04 07:39:46
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