Gradual Increase in American Support for Kosovo Involvement Continues

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

In the midst of intense media focus on the events which have been unfolding daily in Yugoslavia, a new Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll shows that support for the NATO mission in Kosovo and for the possible introduction of U.S. ground troops continues to increase slightly from week to week. At the same time, the public's somewhat more negative feelings about the current and projected success of the mission and the Clinton Administration's policies in the region have not changed. Contrary to some observers' opinions, the new poll suggests that Americans are paying close attention to the events in Kosovo, and that the public claims to have a good understanding of why the United States is involved there.

Sixty-one percent of the public now supports the U.S. involvement with NATO air and missile attacks against Serbian targets in Yugoslavia, up from 50% three weeks ago, immediately after the bombing started, and from just 43% when the question about possible air attacks was first asked in February. In addition, for the first time, a slight majority of Americans-52%-now support the possible introduction of U.S. and NATO ground troops into the situation if the air attacks are not successful. A week ago, 47% supported the use of ground troops, while three weeks ago only 31% expressed such support.

Responses to a separate question asking about the introduction of ground troops "in a combat situation in the region right now" have remained essentially unchanged, at 43% support.

Some observers have suggested that Americans are puzzled by the U.S. involvement in Kosovo and don't understand it. The survey data suggest just the opposite-that Americans, in fact, are closely following the situation in the Balkans, and have a good understanding of the reasons behind the military actions. Over eight out of ten of those surveyed Tuesday and Wednesday night of this week say they understand why Americans are involved. Over 80% say they are following the events closely, a percentage which has risen sharply from only 36% who were following the Kosovo situation closely in mid March, before the attacks began.

At the same time, while the majority of Americans say they favor the air strikes and that they understand the rationale for U.S. involvement in Kosovo, there is significantly lower support for the way in which the actions are being managed and executed:

• Only 41% of the public says that the Clinton Administration has a clear and well-thought-out policy on the Kosovo situation-roughly the same percentage as last week
  
• Only 37% say that the effort so far has been a success-unchanged from last week
  
• Only 51% say that the effort will be a success when NATO military action in Yugoslavia has ended, also essentially unchanged
  

An overwhelming majority of Americans feel it would be important for President Clinton to get congressional approval for the eventual use of ground troops in Kosovo, a finding which is consistent with the public's views in other military actions in which the United States has been involved over the past decade.

For results based on the sample of national adults (N=1,069) surveyed April 13-14, 1999, the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.

As you may know, the military alliance of Western countries called NATO, launched air and missile attacks against Serbian military targets in Yugoslavia. Do you favor or oppose the United States being a part of that military action?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
99 Apr 13-14	61%	35%	4%
99 Apr 6-7	58	36	6
99 Mar 30-31	53	41	6
99 Mar 25	50	39	11
99 Mar 19-21^	46	43	11
99 Feb 19-21^	43	45	12

^ Question Wording: "If a peace agreement is not reached between the Yugoslavian Serbs and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority, NATO has said it would carry out air and missile attacks against Serb military installations. Would you favor or oppose the U.S. being a part of that military action?"

From what you have heard or read, do you think the Clinton Administration has a clear and well-thought-out policy on the Kosovo situation, or don't you think so?

	Clear and well-thought-out policy	Don't think so	No opinion
99 Apr 13-14	41%	51%	8%
99 Apr 6-7	39	50	11
99 Mar 30-31	46	47	7

If the current NATO air and missile strikes are not effective in achieving the United States' objectives in Kosovo, would you favor or oppose President Clinton sending U.S. ground troops into the region along with troops from other NATO countries?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
99 Apr 13-14	52%	45%	3%
99 Apr 6-7	47	47	6
99 Mar 30-31	39	57	4
99 Mar 25^	31	65	4
94 Apr 16-18**	41	53	6

^ Question Wording: "If the current NATO air and missile strikes are not effective in achieving the United States' objectives in Kosovo, would you favor or oppose President Clinton sending U.S. ground troops into the region to stop the Serbian attacks on Kosovo?"
** Question Wording: "If the air strikes are not effective in stopping the Serbian attacks, would you favor or oppose President Clinton sending U.S. ground troops into Bosnia to join ground troops from other Western European countries?"

Now thinking about the current situation in Kosovo, would you favor or oppose sending U.S. ground troops, along with troops from other NATO countries, to serve in a combat situation in the region right now?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
99 Apr 13-14	43%	53%	4%
99 Apr 6-7	41	54	5

From what you've heard and read, do you think the current NATO military action in Yugoslavia has been a success or a failure?

	Favor	Oppose	TOO SOON TO TELL (vol.)	No opinion
99 Apr 13-14	37%	46%	9%	4%
99 Apr 6-7	37	41	15	7