(CBS News) — Amid continued speculation that Israel may be considering an attack on Iran, a majority of Americans say they would favor using U.S. military action against Iran to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll.
The poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 adults nationwide between March 7 and 11, showed that 51 percent of Americans would support U.S. military action in Iran for purposes of stopping the country from developing a nuclear weapon. Thirty-six percent say they would oppose such action, and 13 percent say they are unsure.
Support for U.S. military action in Iran appears to fall largely along partisan lines: 66 percent of Republicans, compared with 40 percent of Democrats, would be in favor. Conversely, 50 percent of Democrats oppose the use of U.S. force in Iran, while only 24 percent of Republicans say the same. Fifty-one percent of independents would support taking U.S. military action in Iran to prevent the country from developing nuclear capabilities; 34 percent oppose it.
More respondents also say they think the U.S. should support Israel in the event the country undertakes its own military effort against Iran than those who say the U.S. should oppose it. According to the survey, 47 percent of Americans say the U.S. should support Israel in the event of an attack, while 42 percent say the U.S. should not get involved.
That question, too, was divided along partisan lines. Republicans overwhelmingly (72 percent) say they would want the U.S. to get involved, while Democrats (55 percent) and independents (44 percent) say the U.S. should not get involved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/2102-503544_162-57395830.html
The poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 adults nationwide between March 7 and 11, showed that 51 percent of Americans would support U.S. military action in Iran for purposes of stopping the country from developing a nuclear weapon. Thirty-six percent say they would oppose such action, and 13 percent say they are unsure.
Support for U.S. military action in Iran appears to fall largely along partisan lines: 66 percent of Republicans, compared with 40 percent of Democrats, would be in favor. Conversely, 50 percent of Democrats oppose the use of U.S. force in Iran, while only 24 percent of Republicans say the same. Fifty-one percent of independents would support taking U.S. military action in Iran to prevent the country from developing nuclear capabilities; 34 percent oppose it.
More respondents also say they think the U.S. should support Israel in the event the country undertakes its own military effort against Iran than those who say the U.S. should oppose it. According to the survey, 47 percent of Americans say the U.S. should support Israel in the event of an attack, while 42 percent say the U.S. should not get involved.
That question, too, was divided along partisan lines. Republicans overwhelmingly (72 percent) say they would want the U.S. to get involved, while Democrats (55 percent) and independents (44 percent) say the U.S. should not get involved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/2102-503544_162-57395830.html