CBS NEWS POLLFor release: Friday, November 11, 20116:30 PM (ET)Americans Views o n Foreign Policy Issues andAssessments of Republican

CandidatesNovember 6-10, 20 11After long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, this poll finds Americans are now rel uctant to engagemilitarily with other countries. Most say the U.S. did not do th e right thing becoming involved inAfghanistan, and a majority says the war in Ir aq was not worth the costs. Majorities ofAmericans think threats from Iran and N orth Korea can be contained with diplomacy. Seven in10 think the U.S. should not engage in changing dictatorships to democracies. Republicanshold similar views, but are more apt to view the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan positively.At the sam e time, most Americans (and most Republicans) approve of attacks against terrori stsoverseas, and want the prison at Guantanamo Bay kept open. 70% of Republicans (but just45% of Americans overall) think the use of interrogation techniques su ch as waterboarding issometimes justified.There is strong support from Americans for Israel and that support is even higher amongRepublicans. Nearly half of Rep ublicans oppose awarding statehood to Palestine. And whileChinas economic growth is widely seen as bad for the U.S., most see that country as friendly tothe U.S. or an ally.The Republican FieldMitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are the top picks when it comes to key foreign policycharacteristics. Republican primary voters sa y Mitt Romney is the candidate most qualified tobe commander-in-chief (26%), fol lowed by Newt Gingrich (21%) and Herman Cain (11%).But Newt Gingrich is the cand idate Republicans most trust to handle an international crisis(31%), followed by Romney (19%) and then Cain (8%).Neither Rick Perrys military service nor Jon Hun tsmans experience as ambassador have giveneither candidate a boost on these measu res.Which Candidate(Among Republican Primary Voters)Most Qualified to be Trust Mo st to HandleCommander-in-Chief International CrisisMitt Romney 26% 19%Newt Gingr ich 21 31Herman Cain 11 8Rick Perry 9 9Michele Bachmann 5 3Ron Paul 4 3Rick Sant orum 2 3Jon Huntsman 2 4Dont know 15 151 AfghanistanAssessing the situation.Its been 10 years since the U.S. went to war in Afghanistan; half of Americans say the U.S.should not be involved there now, while 36% think fighting in Afghanista n is the right thing to do.The last time a majority of Americans thought the U.S . was doing the right thing in Afghanistanwas in 2009.U.S. Doing the Right Thing Fighting in Afghanistan?Now 9/2011 6/2011 9/2010 10/2009Right thing 36% 34% 35% 38% 51%Not be involved 53 57 58 54 39Among Republicans, nearly half say the U.S . is doing the right thing by fighting in Afghanistan,compared to just 29% of De mocrats and 33% of independents.U.S. Doing the Right Thing Fighting in Afghanist an?Total Reps Dems IndsRight thing 36% 48% 29% 33%Not be involved 53 43 62 52Sti ll, more Americans think the war in Afghanistan is going well (48%) than think i t is going badly(42%). Republicans and Democrats agree on this measure.How Are T hings Going for the U.S. in Afghanistan?Now 9/2011 6/2011 10/2010 11/2009 3/2009 Well 48% 40% 53% 38% 23% 33%Badly 42 53 40 55 69 57Should the U.S. draw down tr oops? Most Americans continue to want U.S. troops to start coming home from Afgh anistan. 58%support decreasing the number of troops there. In 2009, as discussio ns to deploy additionaltroops to Afghanistan were underway, about a third suppor ted increasing the number of U.S.troops there.Should U.S. Troops in Afghanistan be?Now 9/2011 6/2011 11/2009 4/2009Increased 8% 7% 8% 32% 36%Kept the same 27 24 22 20 23Decreased 58 62 64 39 29Democrats are more likely than Republicans and i ndependents to support decreasing trooplevels in Afghanistan.Should U.S. Troops in Afghanistan be?Total Reps Dems IndsIncreased 8% 10% 6% 7%Kept the same 27 36 1 9 27Decreased 58 47 68 562 PakistanOsama bin Laden was found in Pakistan, and the U.S. has been conducting drone attacks thereto root out terrorists. More th an six in 10 Americans describe Pakistan as either unfriendly to theU.S. (39%) o r an enemy (24%). Just 21% call Pakistan friendly to the U.S., and only 2% see i tas an ally. Views are similar across party lines.Do you Consider Pakistan?Total Reps Dems IndsAn ally 2% 2% 1% 2%Friendly but not an ally 21 21 21 21Unfriendly 39 42 36 39An enemy 24 26 26 22IranMost Americans support a diplomatic approach when it comes to dealing with Iran; 55% thinkIran is a threat to the U.S. that c an be contained with diplomacy. Only 15% say Iran is a threatthat requires milit ary action now, and another 17% do not consider Iran a threat.Americans across t he political spectrum support diplomacy with Iran rather than military action,bu t Republicans are more than twice as likely as Democrats to say Iran is a threat

that requiresmilitary action.How Great a Threat is Iran?Total Reps Dems IndsReq uires military action now 15% 22% 10% 14%Can be contained with diplomacy 55 52 6 0 53Not a threat at this time 17 17 17 16IraqShould U.S. troops come home? Presi dent Obama recently announced that U.S. troops will come home from Iraq by the e nd ofthe year. 77% of Americans approve of this action; just 17% disapprove. Maj orities of allpartisan stripes want U.S. troops to come by the end of the year, including 63% of Republicans.Remove U.S. Troops from Iraq by End of 2011Total Re ps Dems IndsApprove 77% 63% 94% 73%Disapprove 17 29 5 19Was the Iraq war worth i t? Looking back, 67% of Americans do not think the result of the Iraq war was wo rth the loss ofAmerican life and other costs of the war; just 24% say it was. Vi ews have been similar for morethan two years.Was Result of the Iraq War Worth th e Costs?Total Reps Dems IndsYes 24% 42% 14% 21%No 67 49 81 673 Americans ar e more likely to think the specific act of removing Saddam Hussein from powerwas worthwhile. 41% say removing Saddam Hussein was worth the loss of American life andother costs of attacking Iraq, but half still say that was not worth it.Was Removing Saddam Hussein Worth the Costs?Total Reps Dems IndsYes 41% 59% 32% 37%N o 50 34 61 52On both questions, Republicans are far more likely than Democrats a nd independents to saythe war was a worthwhile effort.Terrorism and Counterterro rismThe war on terrorism.Americans are divided as to whether the U.S. and its al lies are winning the war againstterrorism; 42% think they are, while another 42% say that neither side is winning. Less thanone in 10 thinks the terrorists are winning. The public has been divided on this question foryears.Who is Winning th e War Against Terrorism?Total Reps Dems IndsU.S. and allies 42% 45% 47% 37%Neith er side 42 41 41 44Terrorists 9 8 7 11Has the Obama administration made the coun try safer? The publics view on whether the Obama administration has made the coun try safer fromterrorism has improved from a year ago. Now 36% of Americans give credit to the Obamaadministration for making the country safer up from 28% in Ma y 2010 - while 34% think theadministrations policies have had no effect, and anot her 19% think those policies have madethe country less safe. There are partisan differences: less than one in five Republicans thinksthe Obama administration ha s made the country safer, compared to a majority of Democrats.Has the Obama Admi nistrations PoliciesMade the Country Safer from Terrorism?Total Reps Dems Inds 5/ 2010Safer 36% 18% 56% 33% 28%No effect 34 41 28 34 39Less safe 19 33 8 20 25Atta cks against terrorists abroad.The Obama administration has stepped up drone atta cks in countries where terrorists arehiding, such as Pakistan and Yemen. In gene ral, more than six in 10 Americans approve of theU. S. taking military action in countries where it believes terrorists are hiding. Majorities ofRepublicans, De mocrats, and independents agree.4 Should U.S. Take Military Action inCountri es where Terrorists are Hiding?Total Reps Dems IndsApprove 65% 75% 62% 62%Disapp rove 22 18 25 23In the wake of the targeted killing in Yemen of Anwar al-Awlaki - an American citizen of Yemenidescent who was a senior member of Al-Qaeda 53% o f Americans think it is okay for the U.S.to authorize the killing of an American citizen in a foreign country who is known to be a terrorist.Republicans (63%) a re the most supportive, though about half of Democrats (52%) andindependents (48 %) also approve.Is it Okay for the U.S. to Kill American Citizen AbroadWho is a Known Terrorist?Total Reps Dems IndsOkay 53% 63% 52% 48%Not Okay 35 26 39 38The prison at Guantanamo Bay.Meanwhile, the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, remains open, holding enemy combatantswho have been captured in the war against terroris m. 52% of Americans think the U.S. shouldcontinue to operate the prison at Guant anamo Bay, including three in four Republicans.What Should Happen to Guantanamo Bay?Total Reps Dems Inds Continue to operate 52% 76% 36% 50%Close it 33 16 44 35 Enhanced interrogation techniques.In January 2009, the Obama administration offi cially prohibited the use of waterboarding andseveral other forms of aggressive interrogation tactics, though Americans overall are divided asto whether or not it is sometimes justified to use such tactics in order to get information from a suspected terrorist. 45% of Americans think it is sometimes justified, while 40% think it is never justified. Seven in 10 Republicans think its sometimes justifi ed, while Democrats andindependents are inclined to think its not.Is Waterboardin g Ever Justified?Total Reps Dems Inds Justified 45% 70% 35% 37%Not justified 40 20 48 46Libya, Syria, and When to InterveneShould U.S. have been involved in Lib

ya? Although Colonel Qaddafi was removed from power in Libya without the loss of American life,the American public is not convinced that the United States did t he right thing by taking part inthe military conflict in Libya. 37% think the U. S. did the right thing, while 49% think the U.S.should not have gotten involved in Libya. Republicans, Democrats, and independents are allmore inclined to say t he U.S. should have stayed out of Libya.5 U.S. Military Involvement in Liby aTotal Reps Dems IndsRight thing 37% 40% 39% 34%Should have stayed out 49 50 47 49Intervention and the use of force As protests and crackdowns on protests conti nue throughout the Arab world, Americans aredivided as to whether or not the U.S . should use military force to try to prevent violent attacksagainst civilians b y foreign governments. 39% think the U.S. should get involved, while 39%think it should not. Republicans, Democrats, and independents are each divided over this .Should the U.S. Use Military Force to StopGovernments Attacking Their Own Citiz ens?Total Reps Dems IndsShould 39% 41% 40% 37%Should not 39 42 39 38Depends (vol .) 14 14 11 16In general, few Americans support U.S. interventionism in the name of democracy. Just 15%think the United States should try to change a dictatorsh ip to a democracy in other countries,while 70% say the U.S. should say out of ot her countries affairs a view Americans have heldfor a number of years. Majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents all say the U.S.should not intervene to change dictatorships to democracies.Should The U.S. Try To Change Dictatorsh ips To Democracies?Total Reps Dems IndsYes 15% 16% 16% 14%No 70 72 72 68Israel, the Palestinians, and IslamSupport for Israel.Three in four Americans consider I srael either friendly towards the United States or an ally; just12% view the cou ntry as either unfriendly or an enemy. Republicans are particularly strongsuppor ters of Israel: 58% view that country as an ally, and another 26% think of it as friendlytowards the U.S.Do You Consider Israel?Total Reps Dems IndsAn ally 41% 5 8% 29% 39%Friendly, but not an ally 34 26 40 34Unfriendly 7 4 8 9An enemy 5 3 9 438% of Americans think the U.S. gives the right amount of support to Israel, bu t another 31%think the U.S. gives too much, while 17% think it gives too little. Republicans are more likelythan Democrats or independents to think the U.S. giv es too little support to Israel.6 Does the U.S. Support Israel?Total Reps Dems IndsToo much 31% 23% 33% 34%Right amount 38 42 44 31Too little 17 26 11 16A two -state solution.42% of Americans are in favor of the establishment of a Palestin ian state that is recognized bythe United Nations, while 34% are opposed to it; though one in five doesnt know. MoreRepublicans (48%) than Democrats (32%) and in dependents (28%) oppose this.A Palestinian State Recognized by the U.N.Total Rep s Dems Inds Favor 42% 33% 45% 44%Oppose 34 48 32 28Dont know 22 17 22 26Views of Islam.25% of Americans have a favorable impression of Islam, while more - 32% view it unfavorably.31% havent heard enough to say. Republicans (52%) view Islam more unfavorably than eitherDemocrats (23%) or independents (28%).Impression of IslamTotal Reps Dems IndsFavorable 25% 14% 33% 27%Not favorable 32 52 23 28%Have nt heard enough 31 22 35 33Though 36% of Americans think Islam encourages more vi olence than other religions aroundthe world, 42% think it encourages the same am ount of violence, and 6% think it encouragesless. Republicans (49%) are more lik ely than either Democrats (31%) or independents (31%) tothink that Islam encoura ges more violence.Compared to Other Religions, Does Islam Encourage?Total Reps De ms IndsMore violence 36% 49% 31% 31%Same amount of violence 42 33 46 45Less viol ence 6 5 6 6ChinaAmericans view China, the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt, as either an ally (11%) of theU.S. or a friendly nation (48%), but a third descr ibes China as unfriendly or an enemy.Do you consider China?Total Reps Dems IndsAn ally 11% 11% 14% 9%Friendly but not an ally 48 46 51 48Unfriendly 20 25 17 20An enemy 12 12 9 147 Still, the public is concerned about Chinas economic and mi litary expansion. 61% say Chinaseconomic growth has been generally bad for the U. S., while just 15% say its been a good thing.Views differ little across party lin es.Impact of Chinas Economic Expansion on the U.S.Total Reps Dems IndsGenerally g ood 15% 17% 15% 15%Generally bad 61 62 59 61No effect 12 12 16 9On the military front, two thirds of all Americans think Chinas military is a threat to the Unite dStates, including a quarter who say it is a major threat. Another quarter do no t view Chinasmilitary as a security threat to the U.S.Chinas Military a Threat to the Security of the U.S.?Total Reps Dems IndsMajor threat 25% 30% 22% 25%Minor t

hreat 42 41 44 40Not a threat 26 25 28 25North KoreaAmericans do not support mil itary action against North Korea a country believed to havenuclear weapons. 65% say North Koreas development of weapons is a threat than can becontained, while s ignificantly fewer - 16% - say it is threat that requires military action now.Ho w Great a Threat is North Korea?Total Reps Dems IndsRequires military action now 16% 17% 16% 16%Can be contained 65 63 66 65Not a threat at this time 12 15 12 1 0 ____________________________________________________________________ This poll was conducted by telephone from November 6-10, 2011 among 1,182 adults nationwi de. Phone numberswere dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell ph ones. The error due to sampling for results based onthe entire sample could be p lus or minus three percentage points. The margin of error for the sample of regi steredvoters could be plus or minus three points and six points for the sample o f Republican primary voters. The error forsubgroups may be higher. This poll rel ease conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on PublicPo lls.8 CBS NEWS POLL Americans Views on Foreign Policy NOVEMBER 6-10, 2011 q1-q12 RELEASED SEPARATELYq13 What is your impression of the religion called Islam? As of today, is it veryfavorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, very u nfavorable, or haven t youheard enough about that to say?** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID ***Total Rep Dem Ind Mar11b% % % % %Very favorable 7 4 9 7 10Somewh at favorable 18 10 24 20 20Somewhat unfavorable 15 26 11 12 19Very unfavorable 1 7 26 12 16 16Haven t heard enough 31 22 35 33 26DK/NA 12 12 9 12 9q14 Generally speaking, do you think the Islamic religion encourages violence more thanother r eligions around the world, about the same amount, or less than other religionsar ound the world?Oct07aMore 36 49 31 31 45Same amount 42 33 46 45 36Less 6 5 6 6 6 DK/NA 16 13 17 18 13q15-q17 RELEASED SEPARATELYq18 Do you think the policies of the Obama administration have made the United Statessafer from terrorism, less s afe from terrorism, or have the policies of the Obamaadministration not affected the US s safety from terrorism?May10cSafer 36 18 56 33 28Less safe 19 33 8 20 2 5No effect 34 41 28 34 39Don t know/No answer 11 9 8 13 8q18-q38 RELEASED SEPARA TELY9 q39 Which one of these candidates do you trust most to handle an internat ional crisis?Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Pau l, Rick Perry, MittRomney, or Rick Santorum?** REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS **Newt Gingrich 31Mitt Romney 19Rick Perry 9Herman Cain 8Jon Huntsman 4Michele Bachmann 3Ron Paul 3Rick Santorum 3All of them (vol.) 0None of them (vol.) 5DK/NA 15q40 Which one of these candidates do you think is most qualified to be Commander-inChief? Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Ric k Perry,Mitt Romney, or Rick Santorum?** REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS **%Mitt Romne y 26Newt Gingrich 21Herman Cain 11Rick Perry 9Michele Bachmann 5Ron Paul 4Jon Hu ntsman 2Rick Santorum 2All of them (vol.) 1None of them (vol.) 4DK/NA 15q46 Shou ld the United States try to change a dictatorship to a democracy where it can, o rshould the United States stay out of other countries affairs?** TOTAL RESPONDE NTS ***** Party ID ***Total Rep Dem Ind Sep08c% % % % %Change to democracy 15 16 16 14 15Stay out 70 72 72 68 65Depends (Vol.) 9 9 7 12 9Don t know/No answer 6 3 5 6 11q47 Generally speaking, in countries where civilians are under violent a ttack by theirown government, should the U.S. use military force to try and stop that, or not?Should 39 41 40 37Should not 39 42 39 38Depends (vol.) 14 14 11 16 DK/NA 8 3 10 9q48-49 blank10 q50 Do you approve or disapprove of the United Sta tes taking military action in countrieswhere it believes terrorists are hiding?* * TOTAL RESPONDENTS ***** Party ID ***Total Rep Dem Ind% % % %Approve 65 75 62 6 2Disapprove 22 18 25 23Approve of some (vol.) 7 5 7 9Don t know/no answer 6 2 6 6q51-52 blankq53 Is it ever okay for the U.S. to authorize the killing of an Ame rican citizen in aforeign country if that person is known to be a terrorist, or is that never okay?Okay 53 63 52 48Never okay 35 26 39 38DK/NA 12 11 9 14q54 Who do you think is currently winning the war against terrorism--the U.S. and itsal lies, neither side, or the terrorists?Aug11dU.S. and allies 42 45 47 37 38Neithe r side 42 41 41 44 47Terrorists 9 8 7 11 9Don t know/No answer 7 6 5 8 6q55 Do y ou think it is sometimes justified to use water boarding and other aggressiveint errogation tactics to get information from a suspected terrorist, or are these t acticsnever justified?Apr09bJustified 45 70 35 37 37Not justified 40 20 48 46 46 Depends (Vol.) 6 5 6 8 7Don t know/No answer 9 5 11 9 10q56 As you may know, for

the past several years the United States has been holding anumber of suspected terrorists at a U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Basedon what you h ave heard or read, do you think the U.S. should continue to operate theprison at Guantanamo Bay, or do you think the U.S. should close the prison and transferth e prisoners somewhere else?Jan11aContinue to operate 52 76 36 50 47Close it 33 1 6 44 35 44Don t know/No answer 15 8 20 15 911 q57 Do you think removing Saddam Hussein from power was worth the loss of Americ an lifeand other costs of attacking Iraq, or not?** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ***** Part y ID ***Total Rep Dem Ind Sep07a1% % % % %Worth it 41 59 32 37 35Not worth it 50 34 61 52 59DK/NA 9 7 7 11 6q58 Do you think the result of the war with Iraq was worth the loss of American lives andother costs of attacking Iraq, or not?Sep10 bWorth it 24 42 14 21 23Not worth it 67 49 81 67 71Don t know/No answer 9 9 5 12 6q59 Do you approve or disapprove of removing nearly all U.S. troops from Iraq by the endof 2011?Approve 77 63 94 73Disapprove 17 29 5 19DK/NA 6 8 1 8q60 What is your impression of how the war in Afghanistan is going for the United Statesr ight now--very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?Sep11bVery wel l 4 4 4 5 3Somewhat well 44 49 49 37 37Somewhat badly 31 32 26 34 38Very badly 1 1 8 12 12 15Don t know/No answer 10 7 9 12 7q61 Do you think the U.S. is doing t he right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistannow, or should the US not be in volved in Afghanistan now?Right thing 36 48 29 33 34Not involved 53 43 62 52 57D on t know/No answer 11 9 9 15 9q62 blankq63 From what you have seen or heard abo ut the situation in Afghanistan, what should theUnited States do now--should the U.S. increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan,keep the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan as there are now, or decrease the numbersof troops in Afgh anistan?Increase 8 10 6 7 7Keep the same 27 36 19 27 24Decrease 58 47 68 56 62Do n t know/No answer 7 7 7 10 712 q64 Do you think the U.S. did the right thing by taking part in the military con flict inLibya, or should the US have not gotten involved in Libya?** TOTAL RESPO NDENTS ***** Party ID ***Total Rep Dem Ind% % % %Right thing 37 40 39 34Not gott en involved 49 50 47 49DK/NA 14 10 14 17q65 Do you consider Israel an ally of th e United States, friendly but not an ally,unfriendly, or an enemy of the United States?Ally 41 58 29 39Friendly but not an ally 34 26 40 34Unfriendly 7 4 8 9Ene my 5 3 9 4Don t know/No answer 13 9 14 14q66 Do you consider China an ally of th e United States, friendly but not an ally,unfriendly, or an enemy of the United States?Jul08bAlly 11 11 14 9 7Friendly but not an ally 48 46 51 48 60Unfriendly 20 25 17 20 15Enemy 12 12 9 14 8Don t know/No answer 9 6 9 9 10q67 Do you consid er Pakistan an ally of the United States, friendly but not an ally,unfriendly, o r an enemy of the United States?Ally 2 2 1 2Friendly but not an ally 21 21 21 21 Unfriendly 39 42 36 39Enemy 24 26 26 22Don t know/No answer 14 9 16 16q68-70 bla nkq71 Thinking about Iran, which comes closer to your opinion--Iran is a threat to theUnited States that requires military action now, Iran is a threat that can be containedwith diplomacy now, or Iran is not a threat to the United States at this time?Oct09a%Requires action now 15 22 10 14 19Can be contained 55 52 60 53 57Not a threat now 17 17 17 16 13Don t know/No answer 13 9 13 17 1113 q72 Do you think the United States gives too much support to Israel, too little supportto Israel, or does the U.S. give the right amount of support to Israel?** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ***** Party ID ***Total Rep Dem Ind% % % %Too much 31 23 33 3 4Too little 17 26 11 16Right amount 38 42 44 31Don t know/No answer 14 9 12 19q7 3 In general, do you favor or oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state th at isrecognized by the United Nations?Favor 42 33 45 44Oppose 34 48 32 28Depends (Vol.) 2 2 1 2DK/NA 22 17 22 26q74 blankq75 Do you think the recent economic ex pansion of China has been generally good for theU.S. economy, or bad for the U.S .economy, or had no effect on the U.S. economy?Generally good 15 17 15 15Genera lly bad 61 62 59 61No effect 12 12 16 9Don t know/No answer 12 9 10 15q76 Do you think China s military is a major threat to the security of the United States,a minor threat, or not a threat?Major threat 25 30 22 25Minor threat 42 41 44 40N ot a threat 26 25 28 25Don t know/No answer 7 4 6 10q77 Which of these comes clo sest to your opinion? 1. North Korea s development ofweapons is a threat to the United States that requires military action right now. 2.North Korea s developme nt of weapons is a threat that can be contained for now. or 3.North Korea s deve

lopment of weapons is not a threat to the United States at all.Jul09a%Requires a ction now 16 17 16 16 23Can be contained 65 63 66 65 63Not a threat 12 15 12 10 10Don t know/No answer 7 5 6 9 4Unweighted WeightedTotal Respondents 1182Total Republicans 341 306 (26%)Total Democrats 368 374 (32%)Total Independents 473 502 (42%)Republican primary voters 382 341