Posted on: Sunday, September 16, 2001

The September 11th attack
Polls: Americans want military retaliation

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Americans would rather the United States violently retaliate against Osama bin Laden instead of bringing him to trial, according to the Los Angeles Times Poll published in today's editions.

Sixty-nine percent of the 1,561 people surveyed nationwide randomly by telephone Thursday and Friday said they strongly support military action. Only 25 percent wanted bin Laden brought to the United States for trial.

The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Eighty-two percent said they support military retaliation against Afghanistan if it is found that the ruling party there is harboring bin Laden, even if it means civilian casualties. Only 11 percent were opposed.

Eighty-six percent said the routine of their lives has been disrupted, with 40 percent saying they are too distraught to do daily tasks and 37 percent because they had to watch or listen to the news all day.

But 64 percent said they don't worry about terrorism occurring in public places, and of the 35 percent who do worry, 23 percent said it was the result of Tuesday's attacks in New York and Washington. Another 53 percent said such acts won't be common in the future, while 39 percent said they would.

An isolationist theme seems to be present, with 84 percent of those polled saying in light of Tuesday's attack, visas for foreign students and other visitors should have tougher restrictions.

The country apparently is rallying behind President Bush, with respondents giving him an approval rating of 77 percent and 49 percent of that group saying they "approve strongly" of the job he's doing.