Poll: Majority Of Americans Support A Nuclear Deal With Iran

Washington Post: Poll: Clear majority supports nuclear deal with Iran

By a nearly 2 to 1 margin, Americans support the notion of striking a deal with Iran that restricts the nation’s nuclear program in exchange for loosening sanctions, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds.

But the survey — released hours before Tuesday’s negotiating deadline — also finds few Americans are hopeful that such an agreement will be effective. Nearly six in 10 say they are not confident that a deal will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, unchanged from 15 months ago, when the United States, France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia reached an interim agreement with Iran aimed at sealing a long-term deal.

Overall, the poll finds 59 percent support an agreement in which the United States and its negotiating partners lift major economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. Thirty-one percent oppose a deal.

WNU Editor: The key part of this poll is not that most Americans support a nuclear deal .... it is that few Americans believe that such an agreement will be effective.

Poll: Some Americans Say Obama More Of An 'Imminent Threat' Than Putin

U.S. President Barack Obama (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst) and Russian president Vladimir Putin (RIA Novosti/Sergey Guneev)

Reuters: Americans see Putin as only slightly more imminent threat than Obama, poll says

People in the United States feel under threat, both from beyond our borders and within them. In fact, when asked about both U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, it was a pretty darn close call — 20 percent saw Putin as an imminent threat compared to 18 percent who said the same about Obama.

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll asked more than 3,000 Americans what they see as some of the biggest threats to themselves and the country. You can slice and dice the information in literally hundreds of different ways here. People were shown a range of potential threats and then asked to rate how dangerous they were with one being no threat and five meaning the threat is imminent.

I think it’s safe to say that a national security expert might not agree with the public’s choices.

WNU Editor: I recall reading the same type of polls and the same type of results when President Bush was President (even in places like Britain) .... and it was also split along political party lines.

More News On Reuters Poll That Found That Some Americans Believe Obama Is More Of An 'Imminent Threat' Than Putin

Republicans see Obama as more imminent threat than Putin: Reuters/Ipsos poll -- Reuters
Poll: Republicans say Obama more of an 'imminent threat' than Putin -- Politico
Republicans Consider Obama Bigger Imminent Threat Than Putin And Assad: Poll -- IBTimes
US Republicans Say Obama Greater Threat to Country Than Putin – Poll -- Sputnik
Clear & president danger: Poll shows Republicans more scared of Obama than Putin -- RT

Poll: Russians See Russia As A Great Power

RT: Most Russians see their country as great power – poll

Sixty-eight percent of Russian citizens believe their motherland is a great power that plays a significant role in international politics, according to the latest opinion poll.

The research, conducted by the independent Levada Center, showed that this is the record historical high. The figure is the same as in November 2014. In 1999 the situation was almost the reverse – the share of Russians who saw their country as a great world power was 31 percent, versus 65 percent who said it was not.

Levada Center specialist Karina Pipiya said in comments with Izvestia daily that the share of Russians who were proud for their country remained at a record high despite many negative factors, such as the complicated economic situation, including inflation and other negative consequences for ordinary people.

WNU Editor: I am actually surprised by the 68% figure .... I expected the number to be higher. What's my take .... the cynic in me says that being a great power is actually not a great thing for the simple reason being that you then become more preoccupied with solving the world's problems rather than solving your own.

U.S. Public Now Supports Sending Ground Forces To Fight The Islamic State

Forbes: Most Americans Now Support Sending Ground Troops To Fight ISIS

Over half of Americans would now support the United States sending ground troops to battle ISIS. That’s the result of a YouGov poll conducted in early March. One of the key reasons 53 percent of people are in favour of ground troops is that there are few viable alternatives.

Even though air strikes in Iraq and Syria have stalled the momentum of ISIS militants, less than one in four Americans believe they can be defeated through air power alone. Democrats are divided when it comes to supporting an American ground offensive. However, the same can’t be said of Republicans – 69 percent of them would support a deployment of ground troops while just 23 percent would be opposed.

WNU Editor: This is a major shift in U.S. public opinion. Will the White House and Congress react to reflect this sentiment .... I do not see that happening now.

Poll: U.S. Public Skeptical That A Nuclear Deal With Iran Will Stop Them From Developing A Nuclear Bomb

NBC: Poll: 71% Say Iran Deal Won't Make a Real Difference in Preventing Bomb

Most Americans believe that a nuclear deal with Iran would not make a real difference in preventing that country's production of a nuclear weapon, according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll.

Seventy-one percent of Americans say that the nuclear negotiations, which are backed by the Obama administration and strongly opposed by most Republicans, will not make a real difference in affecting Iran's potential production of a nuclear weapon. About a quarter of respondents - 24 percent - disagree.

Update #1: Voters Skeptical on Iran Nuclear Deal, WSJ/NBC News Poll Finds -- Wall Street Journal
Update #2: 71% of Americans, Including 58% of Democrats, Don’t Believe Nuke Deal Will Stop Iranian Bomb -- The Tower

WNU Editor: These numbers are staggering .... even with all the positive media attention for an Iranian nuclear deal, coupled with a constant stream of positive White House updates on progress .... the American public is not buying the administrations line .... including 58% who call themselves Democrats. But even with these poll results I do not think the White House cares .... they are hell-bent on having a nuclear deal right now .... regardless of the opposition.

Growing U.S. Public Support To Send Weapons To Ukraine

PEW Research Center: Increased Public Support for the U.S. Arming Ukraine

More Still Oppose Than Favor the U.S. Sending Arms to Kiev

As fighting continues in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russian-backed rebels, the public has become more supportive of sending arms to the Ukrainian government and increasing sanctions on Russia.

More still oppose (53%) than favor (41%) the U.S. sending arms and military supplies to the Ukrainian government, but support for arming Ukraine is up 11 points since April 2014, when opposition outweighed support by about two-to-one (30% favored, 62% opposed).

WNU Editor: This is an extensive poll .... it also confirms to me that U.S. - Russian relations are definitely in the toilet.

More Americans Are Now Saying That The U.S. Is The World's No. 1 MIlitary Power

Gallop: Slightly More Americans Say U.S. Is No. 1 Military Power

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the U.S. military takes on an active role in the fight against the Islamic State group, slightly more Americans, 59%, say the U.S. is the No. 1 military power in the world. This is up six percentage points from February 2014, before the U.S. military became involved in the fight against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS. Fewer Americans (38%) now say the U.S. is only one of several leading military powers, down from 44% a year ago.

WNU Editor: I would agree with the majority.

U.S. Poll: Americans See Russia As A Growing Threat

Gallop: Americans Increasingly See Russia as Threat, Top U.S. Enemy

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Russia now edges out North Korea as the country Americans consider the United States' greatest enemy. Two years ago, only 2% of Americans named Russia, but that increased to 9% in 2014 as tensions between Russia and the U.S. increased, and now sits at 18%.

Update #1: Americans agree with Mitt Romney: Russia is now greatest enemy of U.S. -- Washington Times
Update #2: America's Greatest Enemy Is Russia, Not North Korea; Military Is A Critical Threat, Says New Poll -- International Business Times

WNU Editor:Russia may be considered as the the country that poses the greatest threat to the U.S. today .... but in terms of threats by themselves .... the Islamic State and terrorism tops the list .... Gallup Poll: ISIS, Terrorism Seen as Graver Threats Than Russia, Ukraine (Moderate Voice).

Gallop Poll: Americans Are More Worried About The Islamic State And Terrorism Than Russia And Ukraine

Gallop: ISIS, Terrorism Seen as Graver Threats Than Russia, Ukraine

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Despite the intensifying fighting between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists before the cease-fire agreement Thursday, Americans place the conflict low on the list of critical threats to U.S. interests in the next decade. Islamic extremists, commonly known as the Islamic State or ISIS, along with international terrorism in general, loom much larger in Americans' minds as a critical threat.

Update: 84% of Americans see Islamic State as 'critical threat' - poll -- RT

WNU editor: Americans are being constantly bombarded with news reports like this one .... Inside the ISIS plot to attack the heart of Europe (CNN) .... so yes .... this media attention is going to influence the U.S. public to be more worried about the immediate threat which is Al Qaeda/Islamic State/terrorism/etc..

Poll: NSA Enjoys High Favorable Numbers From Young Adults

Dan Murphy, CSM: In post-Snowden era, NSA maintains surprisingly favorable image

But that doesn't mean it's popular. A Pew poll released today found that the only federal agency less well-liked among Americans was the Internal Revenue Service.

Update #1: Actually, young people like the NSA more than old people do, Pew says -- Fusion
Update #2: Shock poll: NSA gets highest favorable rating from … young adults? -- Hot Air

WNU editor: I am surprised by these results .... I expected the exact opposite. If more polls indicate the same thing .... this is then a trend, and one that will have implications on reforming NSA practices and on how much of a surveillance state do we really want. I am also surprised by the high favorable numbers for the CIA. The PEW poll is here.

Anholt-Gfk Nations Brand Index: The Best Countries In The World

Anholt-Gfk Nations Brand Index -- USA Today

Well, it took about 70 years.

Yes, from being the world's pariah in the decades following Nazism and World War II, Germany is now the world's favorite country, according to the Anholt-Gfk Nations Brand Index, which measures the image of 50 leading nations.

The Teutonic powerhouse knocked the United States from its longtime perch at the top of the ratings, which measure "twenty-three different attributes that make up the six overall dimensions on which national image is based."

"Germany appears to have benefited not only from the sports prowess it displayed … at the FIFA World Cup championship, but also by solidifying its perceived leadership in Europe through a robust economy and steady political stewardship," said Simon Anholt, who created the index in 2005.

Read more ....

Update #1: Germany, Not U.S., Is The World’s Favorite Country; UK, Canada, Australia Maintain Top 10 Spots -- IBTimes
Update #2: 10 Best Countries in the World: Germany Dethrones U.S. in Nation Brands Index Survey -- The Street

My Comment: Germany #1 .... no way!!!! Canada should be #1 or #2 .... but I am prejudiced because I live in Canada. :)

The GFK report is here.

Poll: 70% Of Americans Are 'Angry' At The Country's Direction

CNN Poll: Voters Are Angry -- Mark Preston, CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Nearly 7 in 10 Americans are angry at the direction the country is headed and 53% of Americans disapprove of President Barack Obama's job performance, two troubling signs for Democrats one week before the midterm elections, a new CNN/ORC International Poll shows.

Democrats are battling to try and save the Senate majority, while hoping to prevent more losses in the House, which the GOP controls by a 234 to 201 margin.

In the Senate, Republicans need a net gain of six seats, and several state polls in the past month of contested races show that Democrats are in danger of losing control of the majority, and thus Congress. Currently, Democrats control the Senate by a 55-45 margin with two of those seats held by independents that align themselves politically with Democrats.

Read more ....

My Comment: Only 70%? And here is an easy prediction .... the turnover at next week's U.S. Congressional election will be probably at 5%-10%. So much for voters being angry.

Poll: Just A Third Of The American Public Says The U.S. War Against The Islamic State Is Going Well

Support for U.S. Campaign against ISIS; Doubts about Its Effectiveness, Objectives -- Pew Research

Just 30% Think U.S. and Allies Have ‘Clear Goal’

The public continues to support the U.S. military campaign against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. But most Americans say the U.S. military effort against ISIS is not going well, and just 30% think the U.S. and its allies have a “clear goal” in taking military action.

The new national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Oct. 15-20 among 2,003 adults, finds that 57% approve of the U.S. military campaign against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria, while just 33% disapprove. Support is highest among Republicans (68%); majorities of Democrats (54%) and independents (55%) also approve.

Yet negative evaluations of how well the U.S. military campaign against ISIS is going also cross party lines: 64% of Republicans, 61% of independents and 52% of Democrats say the military campaign is going not too well or not at all well.

Read more ....

Update: Pew poll: Majority says US campaign against ISIS isn’t going well -- The Hill

My Comment: These are not good numbers for the administration. And with Congressional elections only two weeks away .... very worrisome for Democrat candidates who are supportive of the President's strategy against the Islamic State.

Poll: Majority Of Americans Believe That Events In The U.S. Are 'Out Of Control'

POLITICO Poll: Alarm, Anxiety As Election Looms -- Politico

An overwhelming majority of voters in the most competitive 2014 elections say it feels as if events in the United States are “out of control” and expressed mounting alarm about terrorism, anxiety about Ebola and harsh skepticism of both political parties only three weeks before the Nov. 4 midterms.

In a POLITICO poll testing the hardest-fought states and congressional districts of the year, two-thirds of likely voters said they feel that the United States has lost control of its major challenges. Only 36 percent said the country is “in a good position to meet its economic and national security” hurdles.

Read more ....

My Comment: The focus is on President Obama .... but both parties are receiving negative reviews from the electorate. As to what is my take .... this is just one poll, but I am surprised that the electorate is more inclined to vote Democrat rather than Republican in the upcoming Congressional elections. If the numbers are accurate .... the Democrats will retain control of the Senate, and may even pick up a few seats in the Congress.

Update: Politico Poll: 64% Believe America Is 'Out of Control' -- Breitbart

U.S. Poll: A Look At American Opinions On The Israel-Hamas War

Americans' Reaction to Middle East Situation Similar to Past -- The Gallop

Divided on whether Israel's actions against Hamas justified

PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans are divided in their views of whether Israel's actions against the Palestinian group Hamas is "mostly justified" or "mostly unjustified," but they widely view Hamas' actions as mostly unjustified. Those results are similar to what Gallup measured 12 years ago during another period of heightened Israeli-Palestinian violence, and they are consistent with Americans' generally more positive views of the Israelis than of the Palestinians.

Read more ....

Update: Poll: What Americans think about the Israel-Gaza crisis -- VOX

My Comment:  No surprises here.