WASHINGTON – Most Americans think the government is doing a good job protecting the nation against another terrorist attack. But a majority also believe terrorists have at least the same ability to strike inside the United States as they did on Sept. 11, 2001, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found 71 percent believe the government is doing “fairly well” or “very well” at protecting the country. However, there were deep divisions by party affiliation.
Thirty-five percent of Republicans believe the government is doing “very well,” while only 12 percent of Democrats and 11 percent of independents felt similarly.
The same divisions were found when Americans were asked whether terrorists’ ability to attack the United States had been reduced. Nearly half of Republicans – 48 percent – said terrorists have less ability to strike, while only 25 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of independents felt the same.
Overall, 39 percent said terrorists have the same ability to strike and 24 percent said they have greater ability. About one-third said the threat was diminished.
Separately, Americans overwhelmingly approve of the work done by the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, with Republicans and Democrats equally supportive, according to the poll.
The commission is expected to release its final report Thursday.
The poll of 2,009 adults was taken July 8-18 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
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