December 29, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer people in the United States are concerned about their lives being suddenly affected by a terrorist attack, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 39 per cent of respondents are very or somewhat worried about themselves or someone in their family becoming a victim of terrorism, down five points since March.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer people in the United States are concerned about their lives being suddenly affected by a terrorist attack, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 39 per cent of respondents are very or somewhat worried about themselves or someone in their family becoming a victim of terrorism, down five points since March.

In addition, 46 per cent of respondents believe neither side is winning the war on terrorism, 32 per cent think the U.S. and its allies are emerging victorious, and 21 per cent say the terrorists are ahead.

Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people. In July 2004, the federal commission that investigated the events of 9/11 concluded that "none of the measures adopted by the U.S. government from 1998 to 2001 disturbed or even delayed the progress of the al-Qaeda plot" and pointed out government failures of "imagination, policy, capabilities, and management."

Afghanistan has been the main battleground in the war on terrorism. The conflict began in October 2001, after the Taliban regime refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the 9/11 attacks.

At least 737 soldiers—including 468 Americans—have died in the war on terrorism, either in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On Dec. 14, 28-year-old Levar Haney Washington and 31-year-old Kevin James pleaded guilty in California to conspiring to launch terrorist actions against American targets. On Dec. 17, another young man, Gregory Patterson, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. The three men—all American citizens—had been indicted in 2005 for allegedly plotting to attack military facilities, as well as Israeli buildings and synagogues in the Los Angeles area.

Assistant U.S. attorney Douglas McCormick referred to the case, saying, "This is certainly an unusual case in that it represents an interdiction of a terrorist plot that was significantly under way."

Polling Data

How worried are you that you or someone in your family will become a victim of terrorism: very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?

	Dec. 2007	Aug. 2007	Mar. 2007
Very worried	11%	12%	13%
Somewhat worried	28%	30%	31%
Not too worried	33%	33%	31%
Not worried at all	28%	24%	23%
Unsure	1%	1%	2%

Who do you think is currently winning the war on terrorism: the U.S. and its allies, neither side, or the terrorists?

	Dec. 2007	Sept. 2007	Jan. 2007
The U.S. and its allies	32%	31%	28%
The terrorists	21%	19%	17%
Neither side	46%	49%	54%
Unsure	1%	1%	1%

Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,024 American adults, conducted from Dec. 6 to Dec. 9, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.