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Americans Reject Peacekeeping Role in Lebanon
- Few adults in the United States believe their country should deploy soldiers to the Middle East, according to a poll by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News. 63 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. should not send troops to keep the peace.
On Jul. 12, Hezbollah militants based in Lebanon killed eight Israeli soldiers and captured two more in a cross-border attack. The Israeli armed forces launched air strikes inside Lebanese territory to fight Hezbollah, targeting the country's infrastructure and its airport. Hezbollah has retaliated by firing rockets into several Israeli towns. 47 per cent of respondents think the U.S. has done the right thing in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
The Lebanese Internal Security Forces have reported that 890 people have been killed and more than 2,400 have been injured. According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), 123 Israelis—40 civilians and 83 soldiers—have died during the conflict. In addition, more than 1,200 Israelis have been wounded.
Last night, a United Nations (UN) brokered a ceasefire came into effect after 34 days of conflict. The resolution calls for Lebanese government troops and a peacekeeping mission to enter into southern Lebanon during the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers.
Polling Data
If a peace treaty were signed, would you favour or oppose the United States sending troops to the Middle East to help keep the peace?
Favour | 30% |
Oppose | 63% |
Don't know | 7% |
Do you think the United States has done the right thing in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict?
Yes | 47% |
No | 36% |
Don't know | 18% |
Source: Opinion Dynamics / Fox News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 900 registered American voters, conducted on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.