POLL: Americans Think Russian President Putin Is A Better Leader Than President Obama On Syria

Americans Doubt Obama's Effectiveness On Syria -- YouGov

Many Americans think that Vladimir Putin was the most effective leader during the Syrian chemical weapons crisis, while approval for how Obama handled the crisis is still low.

Although Syria appears to have met the first deadline in its agreement with the United States and Russia, beginning the process of turning over its chemical weapons, few Americans trust it will fulfill its promises. That leaves President Obama in a difficult position: he continues to have little support for action against Syria, and Americans continue to disapprove of how he is handling this crisis. Worse for him, perhaps, the latest Economist/YouGov Poll finds twice as many Americans giving Russian President Vladimir Putin the nod over President Obama as the most effective leader in this crisis.

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My Comment: President Obama actually ended up doing what most Americans wanted .... no US military strike against Syria .... so these high disapproval numbers are due to something else. I suspect that this poll is more of a reflection of style than substance .... Russian President Putin had more leverage over the Syrians than the US to get Syrian president Assad to the table, and he used that leverage to get the Syrians to "give-up" their chemical weapons .... looking assertive and in command while doing it. President Obama put Secretary of State John Kerry into the spotlight .... and in this case John Kerry was underwhelming .... making the White House look ineffective and weak.

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Polls: About Half Of Americans Disapprove Of The Way President Obama Is Handling Foreign Policy

President Barack Obama meets with members of his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House, January 29, 2010. The President’s chair is marked with a plaque engraved with the date of his inauguration. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

49% In Poll Fault Obama On Policies Outside U.S. -- New York Times

About half of Americans disapprove of the way President Obama is handling foreign policy, a new high as he confronts a diplomatic opening with Iran and efforts to remove chemical arms in Syria, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

Forty-nine percent disapproved of Mr. Obama’s foreign policy efforts, up 10 points since early June, and 40 percent approved.

The president’s negative rating on foreign policy has grown among Americans of all political stripes, with disapproval up 8 points among Democrats, 10 points among Republicans and 13 points among independents.

The poll also found that 52 percent disapproved of the way Mr. Obama was handling the situation in Syria. On his handling of relations with Iran, 39 percent approved, while 44 percent disapproved.

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My Comment: If these polls are accurate .... more proof that the U.S. is one very divided nation.

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Poll: Americans And Europeans Are Still Opposed To A Military Intervention In Syria

A U.S. rally against western intervention in Syria, 28 August 2013. Reuters

Americans, Europeans Oppose Syria Intervention: Poll -- Reuters

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A majority of Europeans and Americans strongly oppose their countries intervening militarily in Syria's 30-month-old civil war, according to a transatlantic poll published on Wednesday.

"Transatlantic Trends", an annual survey of public opinion in the United States and Europe, also found that China's image in both continents was deteriorating and most Europeans did not want to see Beijing take strong leadership in world affairs.

The survey, by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a U.S. think tank that promotes cooperation between North America and Europe, and the Compagnia di San Paolo, an Italy-based private foundation, measured public opinion in 11 European Union countries, Turkey and the United States.

The poll found 62 percent of Americans and 72 percent of Europeans believed their countries should avoid military intervention in Syria's civil war, which has killed more than 100,000 people.

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My Comment: The polls are still consistent .... there is no public support for a military intervention in Syria.

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U.S. Troops Oppose Military Strikes On Syria By An Astounding 3-1 Margin

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Troops Oppose Strikes On Syria By 3-1 Margin -- Military Times

To the list of skeptics who question the need for air strikes against Syria, add an another unlikely group — many U.S. troops.

“I haven’t heard one single person be supportive of it,” said an Army staff sergeant at Fort Hood who asked not to be identified by name.

A Military Times survey of more than 750 active-duty troops this week found service members oppose military action in Syria by a margin of about three to one.

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My Comment: I have never seen such a huge negative margin from US soldiers on any military operation.These results are astounding.

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Polls Show No U.S. Public Support For A Military Strike Against Syria

Americans' Distaste For Military Strike On Syria May Be Growing -- Chicago Tribune/Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans' opposition to a U.S. military strike against Syria is increasing as they learn more about the Arab nation's alleged use of chemical weapons, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll that shows the challenge President Barack Obama faces in seeking congressional approval for military action.

The poll, conducted September 5 to 9, indicated that 63 percent of Americans opposed intervening in Syria, up from 53 percent in a survey that ended August 30. That was a week after the August 21 chemical attack in a Damascus suburb that U.S. officials say killed more than 1,400 adults and children.

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More News On Polls Showing No U.S. Public Support For A Military Strike Against Syria

AP poll: Most Americans oppose strike on Syria -- AP
Majority opposes military attack on Syria, poll says -- CBS/New York Times
CNN poll: Public against Syria strike resolution -- CNN
Obama hits new low on foreign policy in CNN polling -- CNN
Poll: Voters reject airstrikes, question Obama’s leadership -- McClatchy News
Poll: Opposition to Syria airstrikes rises as Republicans shift sharply against action -- Washington Post/ABC
USA TODAY Poll: Opposition to Syrian airstrikes surges -- USA Today

My Comment: Every poll that was released today .... AP, Reuters, CNN, McClatchy, Washington Post/ABC News, CBS/New York Times, USA Today .... they all say the same thing .... two thirds of Americans are opposed to a U.S. military strike against Syria.

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CNN Poll: 70% Are Opposed To A U.S. Military Strike On Syria

CNN Poll: Public Against Syria Strike Resolution -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- As President Barack Obama presses his case for a strike on Syria, a new national survey shows him swimming against a strong tide of public opinion that doesn't want the U.S. to get involved.

The CNN/ORC International poll released Monday shows that even though eight in 10 Americans believe that Bashar al-Assad's regime gassed its own people, a strong majority doesn't want Congress to pass a resolution authorizing a military strike against it.

More than seven in 10 say such a strike would not achieve significant goals for the U.S. and a similar amount say it's not in the national interest for the U.S. to get involved in Syria's bloody two-year-long civil war.

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My Comment: After two weeks of continuous coverage and making the case from the White House on a Syria strike .... the U.S. public is still unmoved. Will the politicians in Washington listen to this opposition .... we shall see.

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Gallop Poll: U.S. Support For Action In Syria Is Low Vs. Past Conflicts

Poll: Potential U.S. Military Strike in Syria Most Unpopular in 20 years -- US News and World Report

Obama has uphill climb to convince public, Congress about Syria

Support for U.S. military strikes in Syria is lower than any other intervention in the last 20 years, according to a new poll.

Just 36 percent of Americans support President Barack Obama's call for air strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad, who the U.S. claims used chemical weapons to kill about 1,400 Syrians, including more than 400 children, according to a Gallup survey released Friday. Obama said he would seek congressional approval before moving ahead with the intervention, but faces stiff opposition from members, the public and the international community.

"Failing to respond to this breach of this international norm would send a signal to rogue nations, authoritarian regimes and terrorist organizations that they can develop and use weapons of mass destruction and not pay a consequence," Obama said Friday during a news conference at the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. "And that's not the world that we want to live in."

The negative public opinion underscores why the president said he would address the public Tuesday to lay out his case for the intervention.

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My Comment: I would wager that the 36% who favor a US military strike is a very "soft" 36%. The Gallop poll breakdown is here. I also find it interesting that Gallop is stating that more liberals support a military intervention in Syria than conservatives.

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Gallop Poll: U.S. Support For Action In Syria Is Low Vs. Past Conflicts

Poll: Potential U.S. Military Strike in Syria Most Unpopular in 20 years -- US News and World Report

Obama has uphill climb to convince public, Congress about Syria

Support for U.S. military strikes in Syria is lower than any other intervention in the last 20 years, according to a new poll.

Just 36 percent of Americans support President Barack Obama's call for air strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad, who the U.S. claims used chemical weapons to kill about 1,400 Syrians, including more than 400 children, according to a Gallup survey released Friday. Obama said he would seek congressional approval before moving ahead with the intervention, but faces stiff opposition from members, the public and the international community.

"Failing to respond to this breach of this international norm would send a signal to rogue nations, authoritarian regimes and terrorist organizations that they can develop and use weapons of mass destruction and not pay a consequence," Obama said Friday during a news conference at the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. "And that's not the world that we want to live in."

The negative public opinion underscores why the president said he would address the public Tuesday to lay out his case for the intervention.

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My Comment: I would wager that the 36% who favor a US military strike is a very "soft" 36%. The Gallop poll breakdown is here. I also find it interesting that Gallop is stating that more liberals support a military intervention in Syria than conservatives.

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Preliminary Whip Count Reveals A Major Congressional Loss For President Obama On His Syria Military Strike Resolution

Will Congress Support Military Action In Syria? A ThinkProgress Whip Count [UPDATED] -- Think Progress

As members of Congress consider President Obama’s request to authorize military force in Syria, following evidence that President Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons killed over 1,400 people, a ThinkProgress analysis of the public statements of 413 Representatives found that 217 lawmakers have either decisively ruled out supporting the measure or say they are unlikely to back it. Just 44 of the 413 members of the House of Representatives said they will definitely or likely vote in favor or the resolution.

A vote in the House is not expected until next week at the earliest. 152 members have publicly said they are undecided and the positions of 20 members are unknown. All told, 322 members either have not decided, or indicated they are willing to consider changing their position.

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My Comment: If these numbers are true .... and if the numbers hold .... this will be a major defeat for President Obama. It will also be the first time in American history that a US President has been denied the use of the US Military in implementing his national security policy .... a case that he has yet to make to the American public.

As to what is my prediction .... the US Senate will vote in favor of the resolution that authorizes the use of force, but the House of Representatives will not. Congress members are listening to their constituents, and they are receiving overwhelming opposition from the public to US military forces being involved in Syria .... and I expect them to vote accordingly. In my own informal and unscientific poll of my own American friends and contacts .... from far left liberals like my sister in law in San Francisco to my libertarian friends in Texas .... only two support a military strike, one hundred (plus) are against.

As to what is my opinion ....President Obama will need to make an address to the American people and present his case because at the moment I am definitely against any U.S. involvement in Syria.

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Poll: Liberals Oppose President Obama On Syria

President Obama on the phone. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Liberals Reject Obama's Case For Syria Strikes; Believe Obama And Kerry Are Lying -- Washington Times

President Obama’s liberal activist base is adamantly opposed to military strikes in Syria, according to a new survey the Progressive Change Campaign Committee released Wednesday.

PCCC says more than 57,000 of its activists weighed in, and 73 percent of them opposed the U.S. taking action in Syria. Just 18 percent supported strikes, and just 14 percent said the U.S. should go ahead unilaterally if it can’t find any allies.

Indeed, a majority of the activists don’t believe Mr. Obama and Secretary of State John F. Kerry are being honest when they lay out their justifications for taking military action.

Four out of five activists also said they believe U.S. action will lead to deeper involvement in the civil war.

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My Comment: Talk about alienating your base of supporters.

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U.S. Poll: Six In 10 Oppose Missile Strikes On Syria

The ''Act now to stop war and end racism'' (ANSWER) coalition holds a rally outside the White House in Washington, August 29, 2013. The group rallied their opposition to U.S.-led military action on Syria. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Most In U.S. Oppose Syria Strike, Post-ABC Poll Finds -- Washington Post

Americans widely oppose launching missile strikes against the Syrian government for its alleged use of chemical weapons, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll that finds little appetite for military action across the country despite a growing drumbeat in Washington.

Nearly six in 10 oppose missile strikes in light of the U.S. government’s determination that Syria used chemical weapons against its own people. Democrats and Republicans alike oppose strikes by double digit margins, and there is deep opposition among every political and demographic group in the survey. Political independents are among the most clearly opposed, with 66 percent saying they are against military action.

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Update: Six in 10 Oppose U.S.-Only Strike on Syria; A Closer Division if Allies are Involved -- ABC News

My Comment: As for those who are supporting missile strikes .... I suspect that this support is soft. Bottom line .... the majority in the U.S. are opposed to a military intervention in a conflict that has essentially become a religious-sectarian civil war. Unfortunately .... I wonder if the politicians are listening. My money is that they are not.

Update #2: Another poll .... and from the PEW Research Center .... Pew: Americans against Syria strike, 48%-29%, fear backlash -- Washington Examiner.

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The American Public Do Not Support A U.S. Military Strike Against Syria

As Syria War Escalates, Americans Cool To U.S. Intervention: Reuters/Ipsos Poll -- Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans strongly oppose U.S. intervention in Syria's civil war and believe Washington should stay out of the conflict even if reports that Syria's government used deadly chemicals to attack civilians are confirmed, a Reuters/Ipsos poll says.

About 60 percent of Americans surveyed said the United States should not intervene in Syria's civil war, while just 9 percent thought President Barack Obama should act.

More Americans would back intervention if it is established that chemical weapons have been used, but even that support has dipped in recent days - just as Syria's civil war has escalated and the images of hundreds of civilians allegedly killed by chemicals appeared on television screens and the Internet.

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Update: New poll: Syria intervention even less popular than Congress -- Washington Post

My Comment: The above poll was done a few days ago .... and I doubt that there has been any appreciable movement to support a military strike on Syria since then. But if there is a war with Syria .... and if these polls are accurate .... this conflict may become the most unpopular war in U.S. history .... including Vietnam.

Update: Americans’ complicated opinions about Syria -- Washington Post

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Most Americans Are Opposed To A U.S. Military Intervention In Syria

Activists and medics manufacture homemade chemical masks in the Damascus suburb of Zamalka. A senior administration official said Sunday there is "very little doubt" that a chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians. Hadi Almonajed/REUTERS

Obama Pressured To Intervene In Syria. Most Americans Say 'No,' Says Poll -- Christian Science Monitor

A senior administration official said Sunday there is 'very little doubt' that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons against civilians. President Obama is under pressure to respond militarily, but a new poll finds most Americans are opposed.

US officials have confirmed that President Obama’s controversial “red line” on chemical weapons in Syria has been crossed. But that doesn’t mean Americans think he should do anything about it.

If anything, public attitudes toward a US military response in the face of new evidence that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons against its own people have hardened, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

About 60 percent of Americans surveyed said the United States should not intervene in Syria's civil war, while just 9 percent thought President Obama should act, Reuters reported.

That majority opposition holds even in the face of evidence that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, the poll finds.

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My Comment:  Only 9 percent of Americans support a U.S. military intervention in Syria .... 60 percent against .... but the hawks who are pushing for a U.S. military response in Syria are not listening.

Update: Poll: War-weary Americans Oppose Military Action in Syria -- US News and World Report

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