skip to main content
Attack on America: Key Trends and Indicators

Attack on America: Key Trends and Indicators

A graphic summary of public opinion following September 11th

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- The following is a summary of the key trends and indicators of American public opinion following the terrorist attacks of September 11, presented in graphic format. This section is updated on an ongoing basis as new data become available.

Presidential Job Approval
Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
Dec. 14-16, '01
How likely is it that there will be further acts of terrorism in the United States over the next several weeks -- very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?
Dec. 14-16, '01
How likely is it that there will be further acts of terrorism in the United States in the days around Christmas -- very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?
Dec. 14-16, '01
How satisfied are you with the amount of progress made by the U.S. military in the war in Afghanistan -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied?
Dec. 14-16, '01
How likely is it that the U.S. will be able to capture or kill Osama bin Laden -- very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?
Dec. 14-16, '01
If Osama bin Laden is captured or killed and his terrorist network in Afghanistan is destroyed, should the United States -- [ROTATED: end its current military action and bring most U.S. military forces home, (or) actively use U.S. military forces in other countries that harbor terrorists]?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Which comes closer to your view about what capturing or killing Osama bin Laden means for the U.S. -- [ROTATED: it will mean the U.S. has accomplished its goals in the war on terrorism, (or) it will be just one step in a long campaign against terrorism worldwide]?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Based on what you have heard or read about the videotape of Osama bin Laden, which of the following comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: it proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he helped to plan the September 11th terrorist attacks, (or) it proves that he was happy the September 11th terrorist attacks occurred, but did not prove that he helped to plan them]?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Suppose Osama bin Laden is captured alive and put on trial, do you think he should be tried by -- [ROTATED: an international court, (or by) U.S. authorities]?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Suppose Osama bin Laden is captured alive and put on trial by the U.S., would you rather see that happen in -- [ROTATED: a regular court of law in which evidence would be presented in a public trial, (or) a military tribunal in which U.S. officers would examine evidence in secret hearings]?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Suppose Osama bin Laden is captured alive, put on trial, and found guilty. Do you think he should be -- [ROTATED: sentenced to death, (or should he be) sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole]?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Some U.S. allies say they will not turn over suspected terrorists for trial in the U.S. unless the U.S. agrees to NOT seek the death penalty for them. What should President Bush do in this situation? Should he -- [ROTATED: agree to the terms to not seek the death penalty for those suspected terrorists so that they can be put on trial by the U.S., (or should he) refuse to accept these to terms, in which case those suspected terrorists would be tried in an international court that would not seek the death penalty]?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Based on what you know about the captured American Taliban soldier, what do you think the U.S. should do with him now? Should the U.S. --[ROTATED: execute him for treason, imprison him for crimes against the U.S., or release him], or don't you know enough to say?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Which comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: the US should take active steps to make certain that the new government in Afghanistan gives women the same basic rights that men in that country have, (or) the US should allow the new government in Afghanistan to make its own rules concerning the rights women have in that country]?
Dec. 14-16, '01
If the U.S. goes to war in Iraq, do you think it will be as successful as the efforts in Afghanistan have been, or not?
Dec. 14-16, '01
Congress Job Approval
Do you approve or disapprove of the way
Congress is handling its job?
Dec. 6-9, '01
General Mood of the Nation
In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?
Dec. 6-9, '01
General Mood of the Nation
In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?
Dec. 6-9, '01
Most Important Problem
What do you think is the most important problem
facing this country today?
Dec. 6-9, '01
How would you rate economic conditions in this country today
-- as excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
Dec. 6-9, '01
Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse?
Dec. 6-9, '01
Do you approve or disapprove of the current U.S. military action in Afghanistan?
Dec. 6-9, '01
Support for Military Action in Afghanistan
All Polling Organizations, Sept-Nov, 2001
Do you think the fighting in Afghanistan will continue for -- [ROTATED: a few weeks or less, several months, a year or two, (or) more than two years]?
Dec. 6-9, '01
Who do you think is currently winning the war against terrorism -- [ROTATED: the U.S. and its allies, neither side, or the terrorists]?
Dec. 6-9, '01
Do you approve or disapprove of the way the following people are handling the war on terrorism since September 11th? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
Dec. 6-9, '01
How worried are you that you or someone in your family will become a victim of a terrorist attack -- very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
Nov. 26-27, '01
How confident are you that each of the following will happen -- extremely confident, very confident, moderately confident, not very confident, or not confident at all? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
Nov. 26-27, '01
Which of the following comes closest to your view about the actions the United States should take to deal with terrorism -- [ROTATED: the U.S. should mount a long-term war to defeat global terrorist networks, the U.S. should take military action ONLY to punish specific terrorist groups responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center, or the U.S. should not take military action but should rely only on economic and diplomatic efforts to deal with terrorism]?
Nov. 26-27, '01
Do you approve or disapprove of the presence of U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan?
Nov. 26-27, '01
Do you think the war against terrorism will be a long war, or a short one?
Nov. 26-27, '01
Do you think the war against terrorism will be a difficult one, or a comparatively easy one?
Nov. 26-27, '01
Would you favor or oppose sending American troops back to the Persian Gulf in order to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq?
Nov. 26-27, '01
Would you favor or oppose sending American troops back to the Persian Gulf in order to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq? Should the U.S. send troops to the Persian Gulf immediately, or only after it accomplishes its goals in Afghanistan?
Nov. 26-27, '01
Which comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: the U.S. accomplishments in Afghanistan will be a success even if Osama bin Laden is not captured, (or) the U.S. accomplishments in Afghanistan will not be a success until Osama bin Laden is captured]?
Nov. 26-27, '01
How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be exposed to anthrax -- very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
Nov. 26-27, '01
Do you think the economy is now in a recession, or not?
Nov. 8-11, '01
Do you think the United States made a mistake in sending military forces to [INSERT LOCATION]?
Nov. 8-11, '01


Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/5011/Attack-America-Key-Trends-Indicators.aspx
Gallup World Headquarters, 901 F Street, Washington, D.C., 20001, U.S.A
+1 202.715.3030