February 27, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the United States think it is unlikely that Russia could launch an attack against their country, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 76 per cent of respondents are not worried about this possibility.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the United States think it is unlikely that Russia could launch an attack against their country, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 76 per cent of respondents are not worried about this possibility.

Relations between the U.S. and Russia have deteriorated over Washington’s plans to implement an anti-missile shield in Central Europe. In January 2007, the U.S. issued a formal request to place a radar base in the Czech Republic—in a military area southwest of Prague—as well as 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.

Washington has explained the project as a means to defend the U.S. and its European allies from a potential attack by Iran or North Korea. However, some countries doubt that Iran could actually represent a danger for the U.S. and its allies in Europe and fear the missile-defence shield could eventually become a threat to other nations instead—including Russia.

On Feb. 14, Russian president Vladimir Putin warned that he is ready to target missiles at former communist states if they decide to either collaborate with the U.S. anti-missile shield or join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Putin declared: "Our experts consider that this system threatens our national security, and if it appears, we will be obligated to adequately react to this. (...) We are warning people ahead of time: if you take this step, then we will make this step."

NATO was originally formed in 1949 as an agreement of collaboration designed to prevent a possible attack from the Soviet Union on North America or Western Europe during the Cold War. In March 2004, NATO added seven more nations, six of which were once members of the Warsaw Pact—a military alliance of Eastern European Soviet countries. Ukraine is one of the former Soviet republics that are considering NATO entry.

On Feb. 21, the U.S. launched a missile into space to destroy a malfunctioning spy satellite. Russia’s Defence Ministry suggested a few days earlier that the U.S. operation appeared to be an indirect weapons test and an "attempt to move the arms race into space."

Polling Data

How worried are you about a Russian attack on the U.S.?

Very worried	4%
Somewhat worried	18%
Not very worried	52%
Not at all worried	24%
Not sure	3%

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,200 likely American voters, conducted from Feb. 15 to Feb. 17, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.