A poll released Wednesday found 63 percent of voters support U.S. or Israeli military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.
The poll commissioned by the Israel Project, a group based in Washington D.C. with an office in Jerusalem, found Americans across the political spectrum see Iran’s government as a threat to the United States – 85 percent among Democrats and 97 percent among Republicans.
At the same time, 62 percent of those polled said they believe an opportunity exists to pursue a diplomatic solution with Iran. Those polled favored direct negotiations with Iran (28 percent), increased economic sanctions on Iran (27 percent), and increased diplomatic pressure (19 percent) among non-military options for handling conflicts with Iran.
The poll was done by Public ap Strategies, a Republican firm, and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, a Democratic pollster. It was based on surveys and focus groups conducted during July in the United States, Germany and Britain.
“All countries want diplomacy over military action” in addressing Iran, poll architect Stan Greenberg said.
“Yet the Americans are more open to military action, especially if a diplomatic solution fails to become a reality.”
Results were released during the Democratic National Convention in Denver at a strategy session for pro-Israel political advocates.
Some 55 percent of Americans, the poll found, would approve of the United States or allies launching targeted military strikes against Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities, and nearly a third of Americans indicated they strongly would approve of such strikes.
Support for Israel has reached 69 percent among the U.S. public, up from 23 percent in 2003, the poll found. European support for Israel appeared significantly lower – 27 percent in Germany and 14 percent in Britain. In Europe, the poll found support for Palestinian people was much higher than in the United States.
Among various factors cited for negative views of Iran were Iran’s president threatening to wipe Israel off the map, Iranian funding for anti-Israel groups Hezbollah and Hamas, Iranian talk of sharing nuclear technology with islamists, and Iranian refusal to allow international inspections of its nuclear program.
According to the poll, 57 percent of U.S. voters reckon the reason why Iran seeks nuclear weapons is to enhance its regional and world power.
(Bruce Finley: 303.954.1700 or bfinley@denverpost.com)
