(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The possibility of a new war in the Korean Peninsula is a concern for many Americans, but following the recent military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the public is not particularly supportive of a new "regime change" operation.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The possibility of a new war in the Korean Peninsula is a concern for many Americans, but following the recent military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the public is not particularly supportive of a new "regime change" operation.
Overall, 59 per cent of respondents think it is "very likely" or "moderately likely" that a war will break out between South Korea and North Korea in the next year. There is little fluctuation among Democrats, Republicans and Independents on this particular indicator.
U.S. President Barack Obama has made it clear that South Korea can count on the full support of the U.S. during this trying time. However, two possible scenarios for American collaboration get very different reviews from respondents.
The U.S. has about 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea, and almost half of Americans (47%) would approve of a plan that would see these soldiers providing assistance to South Korea if a war breaks out. Republicans (58%) and Independents (56%) are more likely to back this notion than Democrats (40%).
Support for the U.S. Government authorizing a military invasion of North Korea with the aim of removing the North Korean government stands at 35 per cent. While almost half of Republicans would agree to this scenario (48%), considerably fewer Independents (37%) and Democrats (30%) would be on board.
On a list of 19 different countries, only two—North Korea and Iran—are seen enemies of the United States by at least half of respondents. Pakistan, which was subjected to a stern warning last month by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, is an enemy for 39 per cent of Americans.
At this point, Americans would support assistance to South Korea in the event of a war, but are clearly not in favour of an invasion to remove the communist regime.
