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The Northerner

(5,040 posts) Wed Jun 13, 2012, 04:41 PM Jun 2012

Poll: Americans are the 'Clear Outliers' in Support for Drone Strikes

The results of a Pew Global Attitudes Project poll on United States drone strikes show that “Americans are the clear outliers” on the issue. In 17 of 20 countries surveyed, more than half disapprove of the strikes carried out in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere.

Sixty-two percent of Americans approve of the strikes, while 28 percent disapprove. Most Republicans — 74 percent — approve of the strikes, according to the survey. Britain and India are the only other two countries with less than 50 percent disapproval.

In Germany, 59 percent disapprove of the strikes, while 38 percent approve. In Egypt, a whopping 89 percent disapprove, and 6 percent approve. In Brazil, 76 percent disapprove, and 19 percent approve. And in Japan, 75 percent disapprove of the strikes, compared to 21 percent who approve.

The poll also found a large gender gap on the issue of drone strikes. Double-digit gender gaps were found in 10 nations surveyed, according to the poll. In the U.S., 74 percent of men approve of the strikes. Fifty-one percent of women approve. In Germany, 54 percent of men approve of the strikes, and 24 percent of women disapprove.

The United States’ use of drone strikes has come under new scrutiny after a New York Times report revealed that President Obama keeps an expanding “kill list” of terrorist suspects. The article also revealed that Obama has embraced a method of counting civilian deaths that essentially counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/06/us-drone-strikes-poll.php
Global poll results: http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/06/13/global-opinion-of-obama-slips-international-policies-faulted/

Should the results come as a surprise?

Can anyone really expect other people to approve of slaughtering civilians and suspects by drones in foreign countries without trial or even offering evidence?

9 replies

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Poll: Americans are the 'Clear Outliers' in Support for Drone Strikes (Original Post) The Northerner Jun 2012 OP

Graphic of the poll results... Luminous Animal Jun 2012 #1

The India results are a bit surprising, since our coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #2

"Maybe there is some hope for humanity yet." k-robjoe Jun 2012 #3

India hates Pakistan Dash87 Jun 2012 #6

Exactly. Which is why I found it so interesting and encouraging that the coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #9

Australia k-robjoe Jun 2012 #4

We are also an outlier in right-wing propaganda Doctor_J Jun 2012 #5

Proof that many in the "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave" ........ marmar Jun 2012 #7

And Ain't That Fucking Brave... Or Free, For That Matter... WillyT Jun 2012 #8

Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)

1. Graphic of the poll results...

Reply to The Northerner (Original post)

Wed Jun 13, 2012, 05:35 PM

Jun 2012

coalition_unwilling

(14,180 posts)

2. The India results are a bit surprising, since our

Reply to Luminous Animal (Reply #1)

Wed Jun 13, 2012, 05:39 PM

Jun 2012

drone strikes kill primarily Muslims. However, the approve\disapproves only add up to 53%, which makes me wonder about the opinions of the missing 47%. Still, even if every one of the missing 47% approve of drone strikes, 20% of Indians still disapprove of our extra-judicial attacks on Muslims. Maybe there is some hope for humanity yet.

Thanks for posting this - quite eye-opening but overall not too surprising.

k-robjoe

(1,392 posts)

3. "Maybe there is some hope for humanity yet."

Reply to coalition_unwilling (Reply #2)

Wed Jun 13, 2012, 06:09 PM

Jun 2012

"The poll also found a large gender gap on the issue of drone strikes. Double-digit gender gaps were found in 10 nations surveyed, according to the poll. In the U.S., 74 percent of men approve of the strikes. Fifty-one percent of women approve."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/06/us-drone-strikes-poll.php

Dash87

(3,220 posts)

6. India hates Pakistan

Reply to coalition_unwilling (Reply #2)

Wed Jun 13, 2012, 08:42 PM

Jun 2012

I would imagine the feeling probably rolls off onto Indian citizens too

coalition_unwilling

(14,180 posts)

9. Exactly. Which is why I found it so interesting and encouraging that the

Reply to Dash87 (Reply #6)

Thu Jun 14, 2012, 08:29 AM

Jun 2012

current results only favored drone strikes by a roughly 3-2% margin (with the other 50% unaccounted for). It speaks well of the average Indian citizen that he or she has his or her head out of his or her ass.

k-robjoe

(1,392 posts)

4. Australia

Reply to The Northerner (Original post)

Wed Jun 13, 2012, 06:52 PM

Jun 2012

A report about Australias use of drones in Afghanistan.

Australia leases israeli drones. The drones are unarmed, but they are used to guide missiles to hit the target, so it´s pretty much the same as if they were armed.

"This technology, he proclaimed, was saving Australian lives and was now enthusiastically embraced by the troops on the ground.

"The capability? It's like crack cocaine, a drug, for our guys involved - just can't get enough of it," Wing Commander McMullan said."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-08/australias-drone-war-in-afghanistan/4058058