O-SPIN-ION Polls

Two new public (US) opinion polls were released this week, regarding the U.S.-led coalition's military action against Libya. The general consensus of these polls (as it's being reported in the mainstream media) is that the majority of Americans approve of the use of military force against Libya.


The Gallup Poll Headline:
Americans Approve of Military Action Against Libya

While the poll results were that more respondents approved of the military action than disapproved, the 47 percent approval rating is the lowest approval rating for any military action ever.

The highest approval rating was in 2001, when 90 percent of Americans approved of the invasion of Afghanistan, in response to the September 11th attacks.

Quite a difference between then and now.

Reuters also conducted a poll this week in which it reports that a majority, 60 percent, support the U.S. and its allies in bombing Libya.

What is not being as widely reported is that the 60 percent breaks down like this:
20 percent of respondents who 'strongly supported' the action
40 percent of respondents who 'somewhat supported' the action.

How do you 'somewhat suppport' something? You either support it or you don't.



Regardless of how these numbers and headlines are spun, the numbers speak for themselves. There is NOT overwhelming public support for the United States' involvement in military action against Libya.

The big news today is that NATO is to take over completely from coalition forces in Libya. But what does that really mean?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) includes twenty-eight (28) member countries, including the United States.

From the NATO Core Tasks And Principles:

"The political and military bonds between Europe and North America have been forged in NATO since the Alliance was founded in 1949...and that link remains strong as ever.

The security of NATO members on both sides of the Atlantic is indivisible. We will continue to defend it together, on the basis of solidarity, shared purpose and fair burden-sharing."

The United States is the backbone of NATO. Regardless of whether our involvement is via U.S.-led coalition forces OR via U.S. involvement in NATO forces, the people do not want the U.S. involved at all.

It appears that battle lines are being drawn in the Middle East, and it doesn't look like the U.S. involvement will be ending anytime soon. No matter how it is twisted and spun, the majority of Americans do not support this involvement.

The only way to change that perception is for people to speak out against it. Whether it is through online forums, YouTube, blogs, social networking sites or protesting in the streets...the only way to change it is to be vocal and visible.