Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Terrorism Is Top Concern For Americans

March 10, 2004

(CPOD) Mar. 10, 2004 - Americans remain worried about possible attacks, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 82 per cent of respondents say international terrorism is a "critical" threat to their country.

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 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people.

The spread of weapons of mass destruction to unfriendly powers was mentioned by 75 per cent of respondents as a "critical" threat. The only other topics to merit more than 50 per cent of all mentions were the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, Islamic fundamentalism and the large number of immigrants entering the United States.

Polling Data

I am going to read you a list of possible threats to the vital interest of the United States in the next 10 years. For each one, please tell me if you see this as a critical threat, an important but not critical threat, or not an important threat at all.

Critical

Important

==Total==

International terrorism

82%

16%

==98%==

The spread of weapons
of mass destruction to
unfriendly powers

75%

20%

==95%==

The conflict between Israel
and the Palestinians

58%

32%

==90%==

Islamic fundamentalism

51%

31%

==82%==

Large numbers of immigrants
entering the United States

50%

35%

==85%==

North Korea / South Korea conflict

48%

38%

==86%==

Economic competition from
low-wage countries

46%

37%

==83%==

The military power of China

39%

46%

==85%==

India / Pakistan conflict

32%

52%

==84%==

China / Taiwan conflict

23%

51%

==74%==

The military power of Russia

18%

50%

==68%==

Source: Gallup / CNN / USA Today
Methodology: Interviews to 1,002 American adults, conducted from Feb. 9 to Feb. 12, 2004. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

Archive Search

Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.


Advanced Search