Poll: Americans' views on foreign policy

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

Ahead of the CBS News/National Journal Republican presidential debate on national security and foreign policy taking place on Saturday night in South Carolina, CBS News surveyed Americans to find out their views on Iran, China, Israel, North Korea and other countries; their feelings about whether the Afghanistan and Iraq wars have been worth the cost; and which of the Republican candidates are most ready to serve as commander-in-chief and to handle an international crisis.

Preview: GOP candidates ready for CBS News/National Journal debate

Here are highlights from the poll:

The Candidates:

Asked which GOP presidential candidate is most qualified to be commander-in-chief, Republican primary voters chose Mitt Romney more than any other candidate, at 26 percent. Close behind Romney was Newt Gingrich, who was chosen by 21 percent of respondents.

Gingrich was cited by GOP primary voters as the candidate they most trust to handle an international crisis, with 31 percent naming him; Romney came in at 19 percent. On both questions, none of the other candidates exceeded 11 percent support. (Read more from the poll on views of the candidates.)

Afghanistan and Iraq:

CBS

A majority of Americans - 53 percent - say the United States should not be involved in Afghanistan. Only 36 percent say the U.S. is doing the right thing in fighting there. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to support the war, but even among that group, 43 percent say the United States should not be involved.

Still, more Americans say the war is going well - 48 percent - than say it is going badly - 42 percent.

Fifty-eight percent of Americans say troop levels should be decreased in Afghanistan, including 68 percent of Democrats. Twenty-seven percent want troop levels kept where they are, and 8 percent want them increased. President Obama announced in June that the 33,000 so-called "surge" troops he deployed to Afghanistan would be home by September 2012, though that would still leave nearly 70,000 troops in the country.

More than three in four Americans - 77 percent - approve of Mr. Obama's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. That includes 63 percent of Republicans. Seventeen percent overall disapprove of the decision.

Two in three Americans, including half of Republicans, say the Iraq war was not worth the loss of life and costs that came with it. Just 24 percent say the war was worth it.

Terrorism and counterterrorism:

Forty-two percent of Americans say the United States and its allies are winning the war against terrorism - the same percentage that says no one is winning that war. Nine percent say the terrorists are winning.

Thirty-six percent of Americans say the Obama administration's policies have made the country safer from terrorism - up from 28 percent last May - while 34 percent say they've had no effect and 19 percent say they've made Americans less safe.

Sixty-five percent say they support U.S. military action in countries like Pakistan and Yemen where terrorists are believed to be hiding, which is often achieved through drone attacks. Twenty-two percent disapprove.

Following the killing of American citizen and terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, 53 percent of Americans say it is acceptable to kill an American citizen abroad if he or she is a known terrorist. Thirty-five percent say it is not acceptable.

Forty-five percent of Americans say waterboarding can be justified, while 40 percent say it is not justified. Republicans (79 percent) are far more likely than Democrats (35 percent) and independents (37 percent) to say waterboarding can be justified.

A slim majority of Americans - 52 percent - want the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to remain open. One in three want to close the facility, which holds enemy combatants who have been captured in the war against terrorism. Though Mr. Obama has vowed to close the prison, he has yet to do so; only 44 percent of Democrats say they want it closed.

CBS

Libya and U.S. intervention abroad:

Despite the removal of Muammar Qaddafi from power without American lives being lose, half of Americans say the United States should not have been a part of the military conflict in Libya. Thirty-seven percent say the United States did the right thing.

Americans are split on the question of whether or not the U.S. should use military force to try to prevent violent attacks against civilians by foreign governments. Thirty-nine percent say it should, and 39 percent say it should not; 14 percent say it depends. Americans are similarly divided whether they are Republican, Democrat or independent.

Seven in ten Americans say the U.S. should not try to change dictatorships into Democracies. Just 15 percent say the U.S. should attempt to do so.

Israel, Palestinians and Islam:

Forty-one percent of Americans call Israel an ally, including 58 percent of Republicans and 29 percent of Democrats. Thirty-four percent describe the nation as friendly but not an ally. Seven percent describe it as unfriendly, and five percent call it an enemy.

While thirty-eight percent say America gives the right amount of support to Israel, nearly one in three says the U.S. supports Israel too much. Seventeen percent - including 26 percent of Republicans - say the U.S. supports Israel too little.

Forty-two percent of Americans support the establishment of a Palestinian state that is recognized by the United Nations, while 34 percent are opposed to it; 22 percent aren't sure.

One in four Americans say they have a favorable view of Islam, but a larger percentage - 32 percent - hold a not favorable view. That includes 52 percent of Republicans.

Asked if Islam encourages more violence than other religions, 36 percent of Americans, including half of Republicans, say yes. Forty-two percent say it encourages the same amount of violence, while 6 percent say it encourages less violence.

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Iran:

A majority of Americans - 55 percent - say the threat posed by Iran, which has been developing a nuclear capability, can be contained by diplomacy. Fifteen percent say the situation requires the United States to take military action now; 17 percent say Iran is not a threat. Republicans are more than twice as likely as Democrats to say Iran is a threat that requires military action.

North Korea:

Responses are similar when it comes to North Korea, which 65 percent of Americans say the threat can be contained. Sixteen percent overall say the threat requires military action now, while 12 percent say the nation is not a threat.

China:

About half of Americans describe China, which holds more U.S. debt than any other country, as friendly but not an ally. Eleven percent says the nation is an ally, while 20 percent describe it as unfriendly and 12 percent call it an enemy.

There are widespread concerns about China's economic expansion and military. Sixty-one percent say the nation's economic expansion has a generally bad effect on the United States, while 67 percent say its military poses a threat to the U.S. - including one in four who describe the threat as major.

Pakistan:

A majority of Americans say Pakistan - the nation where Osama bin Laden was found hiding, and where the U.S. has been sending unmanned drones to attack terrorists - is either unfriendly (39 percent) or an enemy (24 percent). Twenty-one percent say the nation is friendly but not an ally, and two percent call it an ally.

The CBS News/National Journal debate on national security and foreign policy, from Spartanburg, S.C., begins at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday -- watch on the CBS Television Network or here at CBSNews.com.

Read the complete poll (PDF)

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This poll was conducted by telephone from November 6-10, 2011 among 1,182 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 margin of error for the sample of registered voters could be plus or minus three points and six points for the sample of Republican primary voters. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

[jonathandine]

I will be voting for Governor Gary Johnson!!! Pro-Choice, Pro- Gay rights, Anti war GOP candidate who wants to balance the budget and legalize marijuana. Johnson is also a good steward of tax dollars. He came into office with a huge deficit and left 8 yrs later with a billion dollar surplus. His staff once asked him how he wanted his name read on the state welcome signs. He said Don't put my name on those signs, If we change them at all put welcome to New Mexico from the citizens of New Mexico so we dont have to spend money to change them in the future. As Governor he raised the speed limit to 75 on the highway and allowed people to buy beer on Sunday saying "this is a choice the people of New Mexico can make for themselves and don't need the govt telling them on what day they can buy beer." He understand the proper role of govt to protect you from force or fraud but to otherwise leave you alone unless your actions interfere with the rights of another. Check out Two term(one more than Mitt) Governor Gary Johnson! Dont let the media pick your candidate! Johnson's socially liberal and fiscally conservative stances will be attractive to democrat and independent voters in the general election, I think he is the man to beat obummer.. Gary Johnson is who we need in the White House. The People's President!

[TSALAZAR66]

Please ask questions related on how and what to do to beat Obama at the 2012 elections. Refrain from pitting one candidate on another and let's put an end to inter-GOP bickering!... it is Obama who we have to put in a gunny-sack in 2012.

[TSALAZAR66]

Any way you look at it, telling our enemies what our war plans are, is treasonous! Torture is an act of war to be imposed on those who declare war on us. Iran must be prevented, at all costs, from completing their nuclear warhead capability.
Keep your questions focused, not open-ended questions. These issues are crucial to our survival and demand more than 60 sec soundbites

[paco12348]

I think the poll is very suspect. It's upside down from the things I've read on the net, heard on tv and believe myself.

[The_General_1968]

Your article is a contradiction. Your article should be titled "Most Americans Polled Match Ron Paul's Views on Foreign Policy" because most if not all Americans in your poll results seem to favor his positions. Newt Gingrich qualified in foreign policy? Please! He's good at only three things - 1) Debating, as long as nobody questions his answer 2) selling his books through shameless self-promotion, and 3) raising money from special interest groups. He's a salesman, that's all. Rachel Maddow called it correctly.

[confusedeagle]

Its interesting to see African Issues focused here specifically Libya. My Questions tonight would concern Somalia, Nigeria and the DRC.

1.) First regarding Somalia. What actions would these candidates take that would be different that what the current admin is doing? (Sending Arms to TNG, Drone Strikes etc..)

2.)Would they as President take a greater interest in Nigeria due to its importance as a supplier of Oil to the US (roughly one third of what is imported by the US comes from Nigeria.)

3.) Would any of them be willing to enforce Public Law 109-456 to ensure stability in the DRC and place greater scrutiny on both Rwanda and Uganda for their roles in the violence?

[EllieEnlightened]

I just have a comment to make when I hear the pundits on both sides say woman are now starting not to support Cain, I have to ask this. What is wrong with majority of American people these days? Why can't women think for themselves and believe the LSM rhetoric and lies. Why can't they use their own common sense and look at the facts? In which case there is NONE in these allegations. The lies and deceit around these women who are the accusers is evident. Can't you make up your on minds on PROOF not what the media tells you? I want to know if all you self-rightous woman who are bashing Cain on allegations only voted for Bill Clinton in his second term? If you did you are HYPOCRITS pure and simple. Bill Clinton had not allegations but proof of rape and worse and if you voted for him you can't use this as an excuse.

[Crazyeyez4762]

I love how there is no mention of Ron Paul when he has the most promising foreign policy, and best fit to lead us.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
about wars, polls reflects the opinion of Americans, Americans are against wars,
about the race to the White House, it is early to draw conclusions,
about Islam their opinion is obvious, the Americans are injust to a religion they do not know,
they are simply racist
"au revoir"

[fedup12]

I think I speak for a lot of America when I say skrew you.

You didnt lose 3500 people to an attack on 9-11 so I think we have something to be unjust about.

You say it was extremists. But to the rest of us terrorist action on muslims part seems pretty mainstremist.

So BITE US.

[magnus74]

fedup12, do you think 9/11 was just some random attack? Are you familiar with "cause and effect"? (It's a fact Iraq was not a threat and they had no WMD's and were not involved with 9/11) Hell fire missiles kill far more innocents then "bad guys".Will you claim innocence the next time there is an attack on America considering weve killed 100's of thousands of civilians since 9/11?
'Don't let anybody make you think God chose America as his divine messianic force to be a sort of policeman of the whole world. God has a way of standing before the nations with justice and it seems I can hear God saying to America "you are too arrogant, and if you don't change your ways, I will rise up and break the backbone of your power, and I will place it in the hands of a nation that doesn't even know my name ...' MLK

[abcrichards]

I am a Republican and I am going to give Obama credit for the way he has handled the war. I
am not completely sold on Libya yet, but I am glad that there were no troops on the ground.
A sitting president always gets the credit for what happens on his watch, not matter who's idea
it was.
I am sick of wars and want the troops to come home! We do need to do something about the
boarders.

I totally disagree on most everything else. The economy, crony capitalism, Obama care,
over reach of government, transparency, Socialism and the list goes on!

[EllieEnlightened]

Obama DID nothing. The system was in place with Bush and he just followed along. IT IS OUR GREAT MILITARY that did it not the fool in the WH.