Poll: Majority Supports Obama on Drone Strikes, Troop Drawdown

Posted February 8th, 2012 at 8:15 pm (UTC-5)
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A new poll indicates that President Barack Obama has the overwhelming support of Americans for his use of drone strikes against terror suspects and his planned troop drawdown in Afghanistan.

According to the ABC News/Washington Post survey released Wednesday, 83 percent of those polled say they approve of the president's use of unmanned drone aircraft against the terror suspects. Two out of three respondents said they favor the use of the drones specifically against Americans in other countries who are terror suspects – potentially touchier legal territory.

Seventy percent said they approve of President Obama's decision to keep open the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention center. In 2009, Mr. Obama signed an order temporarily suspending military court proceedings at the base and promising its closure. But the U.S. Senate blocked funds needed for the transfer of prisoners from the facility. U.S. officials have since said prospects for closing the prison are small, given broad opposition in Congress to such a move.

In addition, 78 percent of the poll's respondents said they support Mr. Obama's plans to draw down troops in Afghanistan. Among Democrats, 93 percent said they want to see the troops leave Afghanistan, compared to 64 percent of Republicans.

One thousand people were surveyed for the poll earlier this month. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.