Poll: Most Want U.S. Out of Egypt's Affairs

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

Two in three Americans believe the United States should stay out of Egypt's affairs in the wake of the uprising that led to the fall of U.S.-backed leader Hosni Mubarak, according to a new CBS News poll.

Just 26 percent say the United States should help Egypt make Democratic reforms.

A majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents all say America should stay out of Egyptian affairs - and that the United States does not have a responsibility to promote democracy in other countries.

Americans are split on whether Egypt will become a stable democracy within the next year. Forty-five percent say it is somewhat likely, and another seven percent call it very likely. But 41 percent say democracy is not very or not at all likely.

President Obama gets a net positive rating for his handling of the crisis, with 50 percent overall approving of his performance and 22 percent disapproving. Twenty-eight percent don't know. Only Republicans give him a net negative rating.

Some have warned that the fall of Mubarak may be bad for the United States because the regime that replaces him will adopt a more antagonistic posture. The poll shows that Americans share those concerns: 42 percent are somewhat concerned about an unfriendly regime, and 27 percent are very concerned. Just 28 percent are largely unconcerned. Republicans are more likely than Democrats or independents to express such concerns.

Americans have mixed feelings about the implications of the Egyptian events for the Middle East: 43 percent say the events have made them more optimistic about the region's future, while 38 percent say they have made them less optimistic. More than three quarters say it is at least somewhat likely that uprisings for democracy will spread to other nations.

More from the poll:

Poll: Most Americans Uneasy About the U.S. Economy
Poll: Most Oppose Cutting Funding for Health Care Reforms
Poll: Americans Unconvinced Economy on Rebound
Full CBS News Poll

This poll was conducted by telephone on February 11-14, 2011 among 1031 adults nationwide. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

[sjc_1]

Interesting to note the difference towards a country that has little oil for the U.S.

[tsigili]

The sad part, is that the US has absolutely no intention of staying out of Egypt's affairs. To even think they would consider such a thing, is to be totally naive.

[larrryshrine]

by olbabee February 16, 2011 7:19 AM EST
Yes we need to keep a safe distance from this. At least far enough
away to hit the FIRE button on the missiles

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You had mentioned in an earlier comment - that apparently has been removed - that you would simply"nuke" the Middle East, and I think that bears comment. So - where to start. The Middle East is home not to just one, but to three religions, so I am sure you would view the deaths of millions of Jews and Christians in the region as collateral damage. And I am sure that Israel would take kindly to the attack, given that they are bordered by several Arab countries. While you're at it, make sure you blow up all the oil facilities, so you can't frolic in your gas guzzler, and we can wait decades to build nuclear and solar power plants. Don't forget that pall of radiation that would drift over much over the world.

BTW, I have traveled extensively in the Middle East and count as friends Arabs, Christians and Jews in several countries, and find them all to be peaceful people. So next time you comment, why don't you try to put some actual thought behind it, instead of just of just posting ignorant blather.

[Birdman04]

Ignore the idiots. People that think like that are little more than bed wetting wimps acting macho. You could measure their IQ on one hand.

[larrryshrine]

by AlanW33225 February 16, 2011 1:32 AM EST
They are all just a bunch of psychotic rapists. We should nuke the whole country and be done with it.

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I think this comment speaks for itself. I can think of absolutely nothing to say, except that others should know how this poster thinks.

[thinking-voter]

It is the voice of someone infected with the illness.

[larrryshrine]

My only concern is this: Yes, Americans want a hands-off policy (that I agree with). But if democracy prevails and the Muslim Brotherhood prevails in any way, will the same people shout that we should have intervened? After all, democracy brought Hamas to power.

[thinking-voter]

There aren't two kinds of democracy. Nor is it fair to view a democracy as good or bad strictly by how it affects the US. Maybe in the rarefied reality Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld live in but those folks are suffering from an illness called American Arrogance. This illness is rapidly waning as people wake up to the facts.

[olbabee]

Yes we need to keep a safe distance from this. At least far enough
away to hit the FIRE button on the missiles.

[larrryshrine]

Are you actually suggesting that we fire on the country? If so . . .geez.

[larrryshrine]

I'm sure the Middle Eastern children will applaud you.

[lucifersshadow]

Do a search for "Ron Paul's Full Speech at CPAC 2011" . . . He is probably our ony chance at dislodging the Obama foolishness.

[Zann-Zel]

Just curious why you would choose a name like that? How many people do you think are ready to follow "lucifer's shadow" ? ??

[smetwali]

I don't know why the American public has a pessimistic view of Egyptians after the fall of a regime that used his connections with a country that was helping his country to abuse its people. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of Egyptians aren't really against America. They only resent the continuing blind support of the U.S administrations for the ruthless Israeli practices against its neighbors.
America has always been the leader in promoting freedom and democracy around the world. To retreat now is really unwise. It's true that the current economic situation in the U.S. calls for giving the greatest attention to domestic affairs, but the U.S. needs to keep its role in the international arena.
Otherwise, people calling for freedom in countries like China and Iran would be brutally suppressed.
Right now, in Egypt we don't need financial aid from the U.S. (which gives Israel more than $ 3 B each year), we only need moral support and genuine help to restore the wealth stolen by Mubarak and his Thugs Club during the last 30 years.
I'm quite sure that future will show that a free and democratic Egypt will be one of the best allies of America and its people. An alliance based on mutual respect and appreciation of true friendship.
Take my word for it.

[lucifersshadow]

What dream world do you live in? The US government was funneling our hard-earned dollars to the likes of Mubarak. You cannot go to bed with dictators and then expect to be taken seriously when you say you promote democracy. If Bin Ladin said he wanted peace, but then blew up our Egyptian embassy, we would be would not be very inclined to believe him would we?

[olbabee]

Americans have a pessimistic view of everything in the Middle east because it is NONE OF OUR CONCERN. Let them do what they want. No one here gives a rat's a** about the Middles East & their problems. They have had problems since day one & they always will. They strive on problems then suck the U.S. right in the middle. Let them revolt, kill each other, whatever. It just saves us the trouble of doing it for them.

[AlanW33225]

They are all just a bunch of psychotic rapists. We should nuke the whole country and be done with it.

[lucifersshadow]

Au contraire, Egypt is a very SANE country, and the behavior of their military was exceptional during the revolution. Egypt is also a very beautiful country, with a wonderful cultural heritage. Egypt is not sending money to dictators either.

[redbeachvn]

Talking about rapists, have you read the latest? What US Soldiers are doing:AP)

WASHINGTON - More than a dozen U.S. veterans who say they were raped or assaulted by comrades filed a class-action suit in federal court Tuesday attempting to force the Pentagon to change how it handles such cases.
We should mind our own business and stay out. Your President Bush said people love freedom and then kept up friendship with dictators like Mubarak, King of Saudi Arabia - Barbra Bush called Prince Bandar, Bandar Bush, and others like King of Jordan.

[slappy_mcghee]

by YrWrngAgn February 15, 2011 10:53 PM EST
Red-diaper-baby nonsense.

by YrWrngAgn February 15, 2011 10:52 PM EST
I'm glad you don't date. That guy would be in for trouble.

by YrWrngAgn February 16, 2011 12:12 AM EST
Did anyone ever take the time and trouble to remind you that you're a bullying little wimp? Now's a good moment.

=======

Nice, YrWrong. Very nice.