Poll: Most Say U.S. Prepared For Attacks

But 7 Years After 9/11 Only A Third Of Americans Tell CBS News They Think Another Attack Is Likely

(CBS)  As the nation marks the seventh anniversary of 9/11, most Americans believe the U.S. is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack against the country, according to a new CBS News poll.

In the poll, 52 percent said they thought the U.S. was adequately prepared, compared to 39 percent who said the U.S. was not prepared. This is the first time since March 2003 - right after the U.S. invasion of Iraq - that a majority held that opinion. As recently as last September, after the revelations of a failed terrorist plot in London that summer, 56 percent said the U.S. was not adequately prepared.

However, only about a third of Americans think another terror attack against the U.S. is likely in the coming months - with 29 percent saying it is somewhat likely and just seven percent saying it was very likely, the lowest number recorded since CBS News started asking this question after September 11, 2001. Six in ten Americans think it is not very likely there will be another terrorist attack.

A majority of men, Republicans and Independents, conservatives and moderates and voters who support John McCain for president all think the U.S. is prepared, while women, Democrats, liberals, and Barack Obama supporters are divided.

Americans give some credit to the Bush administration for making the country safer. Fifty percent say the administration's policies have improved the country’s safety, about the same rating as they have given the White House for the last two years. Twenty-one percent say the administration's policies have made the country less safe, and 23 percent say they have had no effect.

President Bush's approval rating is now at 29 percent, slightly above the low of 25 percent reached this past summer. His approval has not climbed above 30 percent since April 2007.

The poll also finds that Americans do not have much confidence that the U.S. will capture or kill al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. Only 36 percent think bin Laden's capture is even somewhat likely, and only six percent think it is very likely - the lowest numbers recorded so far. Confidence in bin Laden's capture has declined dramatically over the seven years since 9/11 - in October 2001, 70 percent thought it was at least somewhat likely that bin Laden would be captured or killed. Now, almost that many, 60 percent, have little or no confidence in that happening.

Click Here To Read The Complete Poll

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This poll was conducted by telephone September 5-7, 2008 among 738 respondents first interviewed by CBS News and the New York Times August 15-19, 2008. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire could be plus or minus four percentage points.

[beehive21-2009]

I cannot believe they didn''t kill all of them,next we shall.

[rhs648]

If Bin Laden is alive, he will make a mistake sooner or later. At some point, the U.S. military, the Packastani military, or the Afghanistani army will stumble upon him. All it would take is one informant.

[zcotter]

I believe there will be another attack. In seven years our government has been unable to find Bin Laden. The U.S. has spent so many resources and come up with nothing that would prevent another incident. I expect another attack and our national security is powerless to stop it. It makes me sad to say these things.

[xraytwonine]

what ordinary citizens convince of themselves is meaningless

[hermitdave]

HECK it is easy to keep away a attack for 7 years when the government knows and has close ties to the people who did 9/11. Osama is long dead and had nothing to do with 9/11 anyway. However those third who think another 9/11 could happen, just might be correct.

[firmique]

HECK it is easy to keep away a attack for 7 years when the government knows and has close ties to the people who did 9/11. Osama is long dead and had nothing to do with 9/11 anyway. However those third who think another 9/11 could happen, just might be correct.


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Posted by hermitdave at 02:02 AM : Sep 11, 2008


You are so right! The wars both in Iraq and Afghan are illegal. Americans and most of the world were brain-washed by the media. Israel controls USA....so you figure out...

96% of world media are controlled by Jews. The media is a tool that helps to serve Jewish interest. Check out this website. http://www.jewwatch.com/jew-controlledpress-6-jewish-companies-96-percent-of-all-media.html

Did 9/11 teach us nothing?

We are only "safe" until the next terrorist attack.

Regardless of how "safe" we might think we are, terrorists generally don''t advertise their next attack. They will attack when it suits them, and how it suits them.

In 1993, there was an attack on the WTC by terrorists.

In 2001 the Twin Towers were attacked by terrorists - despite intelligence *suspecting* that something was up, involving hijacked flights.

Yet, our "intelligence" agencies failed to stop them.

Sadly, there HAVE been other attacks against US interests in other parts of the world - but our Government doesn''t want us to think about them - it would spoil the illusion that we are indeed safe.

[juwboy]

firmique:

Gentile-Americans outnumber Jewish-Americans by about 50-to-1.

Gentile-Americans outnumber Jews worldwide by about 20-to-1.

Gentiles outnumber Jews worldwide by almost 400-to-1.

So, if Jews control the world`s media, as you claim, then you are saying that an infinitesimal fraction of any Jew is more than a match for a weak, ineffective, limp-wristed Gentile like yourself.

What a HUMILIATING admission for you to make!!!

[neoconrcrazy]

if the next President is able to read, then I''ll believe we''re safer -

the report entitled "Bin Laden to Attack U.S." was in the hands of Rice months beforehand.

she said to the Senate she didn''t believe it was important enough to act on.

gross negligence.

[chyenna-2009]

Could someone tell me how we are safer after 9/11? Outline it, please b/c I don''t feel a bit safe. Give me some facts and maybe I can worry less.

[firmique]

firmique:

Gentile-Americans outnumber Jewish-Americans by about 50-to-1.

Gentile-Americans outnumber Jews worldwide by about 20-to-1.

Gentiles outnumber Jews worldwide by almost 400-to-1.

So, if Jews control the world`s media, as you claim, then you are saying that an infinitesimal fraction of any Jew is more than a match for a weak, ineffective, limp-wristed Gentile like yourself.

What a HUMILIATING admission for you to make!!!


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Posted by juwboy at 04:12 AM : Sep 11, 2008

It''s true. A whopping 96% of all major media are owned by Jewish companies. Thats why the whole world was into belief that that were WMD in Iraq. Unfortunately with the available of internet, people are better informed nowadays. Anyway rumours are around that the Jews are going to comtrol the intertent too!

[neoconrcrazy]

hey terror-salami!

got any more lies to demean yourself with today?

i suspect you''ll be thrown off this site (again)
and welcome it!

[trrrorislamj]

Posted by neoconRcrazy at 06:29 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Salame, salame, baloney,,,

popeye meets muhammad ali baba,,,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6-v3Wj23Qc

[bigsk8fan]

with two big clowns at the lead, bush and cheney, i don''t see how the usa can be prepared for another attack. they let the first one occur.

[tfheringer]

I think it is pointless to capture Osama Bin Laden, because I suspect that he is already dead. If this is true then it is being withheld from the public either by Al Qaeda or by us.

[nextgenman]

terror salami strikes again! Flinging irrelevant spam everywhere! And nobody believes her!

[trrrorislamj]

Posted by bigsk8fan at 06:33 AM : Sep 11, 2008

UMMM NANCY,,,

the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,,, inside job

the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1998 bombing of U.S . embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000,,, inside job

the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors,,, inside job

talk is no substitute for action,,,

kkklowntoon just gave us the same old tired speech and did nothing else,,,

"We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to find those who killed our sailors and hold them accountable."

yahhh right

[nextgenman]

Jesus Nutball Chick for President of Jesusland!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[tapsettle]

Another attack IS likely as the neocons need to keep hold of power to finish their plans. They know that the best way to control a population is to scare them, and thats what they''ve done for the last 8 years. Wake up america, you are falling into the same trap again.

[ybotheratall]

Our complacency and ignorance (and even omnipotence) is what led to that horrible day seven years ago. Let''s not let that happen again. If people can sit there with confidence and say another attack is unlikely, then they must have already buried their head in the sand again like they did pre 9/11. Remember how you felt that day, wondering how in the hell did they get past us; how did they do this? Don''t think for a second it can''t happen again.

[trrrorislamj]

DO NOT BLAME THE VICTIM,,,

BLAME FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM

[bluestardad]

BIN LADEN THE BUSH FAMILY FRIEND HAS NOT BEEN CAUGHT!

[armydog2]

we are no safer than we were on 9/11/2001. we are more at risk thanks to bush and the neocons.

[txgrouch2006]

The USA is WELL PREPARED for the attack that happened IN THE PAST.

Problem is, the next attack will be COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. And we will be caught off guard AGAIN.

[txgrouch2006]

And yes, isn''t it sickening that this news item, like EVERY item, immediately calls out the partisan trolls who only want to find someone to blame.

BOTH SIDES ARE TO BLAME. Both sides will ALWAYS be to blame.

And both sides will ALWAYS blame the other one.

I will not waste time telling the story again about the time I saw one of the 9/11 pilots at my flying school DURING THE CLINTON YEARS. Bush is to blame for failing to correct Clinton''s eight years of reckless ineptitude. But Clinton is TO BLAME FOR HIS OWN RECKLESS INEPTITUDE!!!

[trrrorislamj]

IF HUSSEIN BECOMES PRESIDENT,,,

YOU WILL HEAR THIS SPEECH OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN,,,

JUST LIKE YOU DID IN THE 90''s

"We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to find those who killed our sailors and hold them accountable."

the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,,, inside job

the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1998 bombing of U.S . embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000,,, inside job

the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors,,, inside job

talk is no substitute for action,,,

kkklowntoon just gave us the same old tired speech and did nothing else,,,

"We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to find those who killed our sailors and hold them accountable."

yahhh right

[tapsettle]

BIN LADEN THE BUSH FAMILY FRIEND HAS NOT BEEN CAUGHT!
-----
Posted by bluestardad

Almost all the hijackers were saudis, Bin Laden is a saudi, yet not a word of condemnation of Saudi Arabia. There''s your conspiracy theory - Bin Laden is working for the neocons, helping them scare the american idiots into invading Iraq etc. Why invade Iraq when it was the saudis? Why stay in Afghanistan when the hijackers are from Saudi Arabia? Why did Bush allow the saudis to leave the US after 9-11, when no one else was allowed to leave? Neocon-Saudi plan = control the worlds oil, and therefore wealth, and americans will continue to die for the plan.

[ofbyfor2]

Posted by firmique at 05:59 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Your combination of conspiracy theory and anti-semitism is sad and pathetic. Put on your sheet and run off to your KKK rally, sonny.

[frootloophhh]

There will be another terrorist attack on our soil.
The only question is how disastorious the attack will be.
I am very concerned about lack of security and control at our ports. I don-t think the Bush Administration enacted any of the 9-11 commissions recommendations.
As long as we have American troops occupying Muslim countries, the U.S. will always be a target for action by radical muslim factions. We need to get out of Iraq as soon as prudently possible. We need to eradicate Al Queida and the Taliban in Agphganistan/Pakistan and get the heck out of there.

With all my fears, I trust Barack Obama, more than McCain, to make the right decisions in the future. Obama will forge the required relations with Muslim countries and their intelligence agencies to control radical Muslims factions....without having to occupy the countries.

[ofbyfor2]

Giving Bush credit for not having more attacks after 9-11 is preposterous.

The Bush administration, out of pride and arrogance, refused to take any action whatsoever on the report that the Clinton administration provided them, entitled ''Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.'' (gee, could the title have been any clearer?)

So they fell down on the job, paving the way for the terrorists to have a field day. After 9-11, they finally got their act together and began to do what they SHOULD HAVE DONE to begin with.

The point is, if they hadn''t been too arrogant and proud and had done what they should have been doing all along to begin with, 9-11 would NEVER have happened. Some people want to give him some kind of prize for doing what he should have been doing all along, yet fail to recognize that it happened on Bush''s watch, AFTER he had been warned! Pathetic!

If a business executive loses a number of major clients due to irresponsibility and negligence, you don''t give him an Employee of the Year award just because he fails to lose more.

[idnnsg]

If you have enemies, it is simply NOT POSSIBLE to be prepared for or to defend against all attacks. The ONLY safety and security comes from having friends. Friends don''t attack and kill one another.

Bush has destroyed our friendship with most of the world, leaving us defenseless.

Killing more people AFTER we have been attacked is NOT defense. It is simply another offense, and it always leads to retaliation. It''s a great way to make the arms merchants wealthy, but it''s not good for the human race.

[ofbyfor2]

Posted by guyfrompa49 at 07:53 AM : Sep 11, 2008

No, the fact that Bush got off his arrogant butt and did what he should have done to begin with!

But anyone who thinks we should give hime some kind of prize for that after he allowed 9-11 to happen on his watch by being negligent is an IDIOT!

Apparently that means YOU!

[ioweign]

It amazes me how you liberals want to blame 9/11 entirely on Bush when under the Clinton admin we were attacked multiple times and he did NOTHING.

Posted by guyfrompa49 at 07:50 AM : Sep 11, 2008

1993 WTC Terrorists bombers are in prison


And Bush has done what...

U.S. "Running Out Of Time" In Afghanistan
Chairman Of Joint Chiefs "Not Convinced We''re Winning," Says It Will Take More Than Military Might

[ofbyfor2]

the Democrats Endless Hate and Anger at everything American.

Posted by demslie2u at 07:57 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Well, it''s 9-11--I guess we had to expect that the neocons would pull out the stops again on questioning the patriotism of anyone who doesn''t agree with them.

If THAT isn''t un-American....?

[mycomment1]

It amazes me how you liberals want to blame 9/11 entirely on Bush when under the Clinton admin we were attacked multiple times and he did NOTHING.
Posted by guyfrompa49 at 07:50 AM : Sep 11, 2008

If Obama is elected and another attack happens during his watch...you can bet your bottom dollar that they won''t blame in on him like they did Bush. He won''t be accused of not being vigilant...I imagine any mistakes Obama makes will still be blamed on Bush for a long time..get ready for it.

[ofbyfor2]

You notice that the Democrat controlled CBS (Communist Broadcast System) has not mentioned a word about the Large Hurricane that is heading toward Texas. If this were going toward New Orleans, we would have endless stories about how bad off the Blacks in New Orleans are and Why we should Hate White People for it. But, who cares about a Red State Like Texas. CBS is a Division of the Democrat National Committee and works directly for the O%u2019Bama Campaign. This is not a %u201CNEWS%u201D Organization. CBS serves only the Anger Rage and Hatred of Democrats toward America.

Posted by demslie2u at 08:08 AM : Sep 11, 2008

LIAR!!!

''Houston Could Take Brunt of Ike''s Fury''
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/11/national/main4438395.shtml

[skyhawk761]

It amazes me how you liberals want to blame 9/11 entirely on Bush when under the Clinton admin we were attacked multiple times and he did NOTHING.


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Posted by guyfrompa49 at 07:50 AM : Sep 11, 2008
+ report abuse

It amazes me how you necons want to blame Clinton for everything that happened under W''s watch, 9-11, the economy, Bin Laden etc......

[ofbyfor2]

Nancy_Naive - Just remember Clinton had Bin Laden dead to rights and called it off.

Posted by guyfrompa49 at 08:15 AM : Sep 11, 2008

BS! He ordered missile strikes against Bin Laden in August 1998. Unfortunately they missed him by a few hours. People like Arlen Specter accused him of ''wagging the dog'' and were critical of his attempts to get bin Laden on that basis.

[trrrorislamj]

IF HUSSEIN BECOMES PRESIDENT,,,

YOU WILL HEAR THIS SPEECH OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN,,,

JUST LIKE YOU DID IN THE 90''s

"We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to find those who killed our sailors and hold them accountable."

the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,,, inside job

the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1998 bombing of U.S . embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000,,, inside job

the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors,,, inside job

talk is no substitute for action,,,

kkklowntoon just gave us the same old tired speech and did nothing else,,,

"We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to find those who killed our sailors and hold them accountable."

yahhh right

[ofbyfor2]

Posted by trrrorislamj at 08:26 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Are you saying that all the attacks you listed were inside jobs? Proof?

[ioweign]

You notice that the Democrat controlled CBS (Communist Broadcast System) has not mentioned a word about the Large Hurricane that is heading toward Texas. If this were going toward New Orleans, we would have endless stories about how bad off the Blacks in New Orleans are and Why we should Hate White People for it. But, who cares about a Red State Like Texas. CBS is a Division of the Democrat National Committee and works directly for the O%u2019Bama Campaign. This is not a %u201CNEWS%u201D Organization. CBS serves only the Anger Rage and Hatred of Democrats toward America.

Posted by demslie2u at 08:08 AM : Sep 11, 2008


not mentioned a word about the Large Hurricane that is heading toward Texas

#####

There is an article -

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/national/main201.shtml

[ioweign]

Nancy_Naive - Just remember Clinton had Bin Laden dead to rights and called it off.

Posted by guyfrompa49 at 08:15 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Actually the missile hit the camp but OBL had changed his plans at the last minute...

[idnnsg]

Mycomment1 said, "If Obama is elected and another attack happens during his watch...you can bet your bottom dollar that they [democrats] won''t blame in on him like they did Bush. He won''t be accused of not being vigilant..."

I''m sure that IF Obama receives an NIE saying "Bin Laden determined to attack withing United States", and IF Obama decides to continue his 6 week vacation "chopping brush from his ranch" and IF he does NOTHING AT ALL to protect the country from the impending attack, THEN everyone would blame Obama for doing nothing. However, the ONLY US PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY to ever be so effing stu.pid and lazy was G.W. Bush, so -- YES, WE DO BLAME BUSH! And rightly so!

[ofbyfor2]

However, the ONLY US PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY to ever be so effing stu.pid and lazy was G.W. Bush, so -- YES, WE DO BLAME BUSH! And rightly so!

Posted by IDNNSG at 08:32 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Exactly! Bush was too arrogant and proud to take seriously a report from a Democrat. Less than 9 months later, ''ooops''!

I highly doubt that Obama would be that irresponsible, but if he were, we''d ALL take him to task on it.

[ofbyfor2]

GOOGLE THIS, AND EDUCATE YOURSELF
Public Allies Obama

Posted by jackDems2 at 08:36 AM : Sep 11, 2008

It''s a community service organization affiliated with AMERICORP for crying out loud! Do you EVER have a legitimate gripe?

[ofbyfor2]

Good job to the government for preventing any more attacks in 7 years. Yes, sacrifices had to be made, but the country was protected. Good job!!

Posted by jamesm12341 at 08:42 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Giving Bush credit for not having more attacks after 9-11 is preposterous.

The Bush administration, out of pride and arrogance, refused to take any action whatsoever on the report that the Clinton administration provided them, entitled ''Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.'' (gee, could the title have been any clearer?)

So they fell down on the job, paving the way for the terrorists to have a field day. After 9-11, they finally got their act together and began to do what they SHOULD HAVE DONE to begin with.

The point is, if they hadn''t been too arrogant and proud and had done what they should have been doing all along to begin with, 9-11 would NEVER have happened. You guys want to give him some kind of prize for doing what he should have been doing all along, yet fail to recognize that it happened on Bush''s watch, AFTER he had been warned! Pathetic!

If a business executive loses a number of major clients due to irresponsibility and negligence, you don''t give him an Employee of the Year award just because he fails to lose more. Get it?

[ofbyfor2]

Posted by jamesm12341 at 08:43 AM : Sep 11, 2008
No griping here, just facts.

BTW, I''ve asked you REPEATEDLY where YOUR background comes from and YOU never answer.

Silver spoon or working class?

[hawksprings]

Thank you, President Bush for keeping us safe!

[ofbyfor2]

Proving you have an unhealthy obsession of Bush, you failed to read that I praised the government. No where did I mention Bush. You need to quit letting Bush have so much power in your life

Posted by jamesm12341 at 08:46 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Oh baloney--I''m just stating facts. In case you haven''t noticed, ''the government'' has been under Bush''s watch under the past 8 years.

[ofbyfor2]

"Universal Voluntary Public Service."

After all Obama was a founding board member of Public Allies and his wife, Michelle, was executive director of the Chicago cell.

Posted by jackDems2 at 08:47 AM : Sep 11, 2008

What part of ''Voluntary'' don''t you get? Here, let me spell it out for you:
Voluntary
1. brought about by one''s own free choice; given or done of one''s own free will; freely chosen or undertaken
2. acting in a specified capacity willingly or of one''s own accord