WASHINGTON: The support for a US ground offensive against the self-styled Islamic State is increasing gradually, although most Americans still oppose leading their country to yet another war, says a survey.

The survey, conducted earlier this month, shows that 44 per cent Americans now support deploying US troops in Syria and Iraq for fighting the militants. However, the majority — 49pc — still opposes this option.

Last October, 55pc Americans opposed the use of US ground forces to fight Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria while 39pc favoured it. But by February of this year, opinion had become more evenly divided, with 47pc opposing it, 49pc favouring it.

The survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Center also shows that 63pc Americans back the US military campaign against IS and only 26pc oppose it. When President Barack Obama first ordered air strikes against militants in Iraq in August last year, 54pc approved the campaign.

Only 30pc believe that the US military campaign against the militants is going very well or fairly well.

The Pew Research Center surveyed 2,002 adult US citizens from July 14 to 20 for this report. Nearly half of Americans (48pc) say their bigger concern about US military action in Iraq and Syria is that it will not go far enough in stopping IS; 43pc express the opposite concern — that the US will go too far in getting involved in the situation.

Young people continue to stand out for their concern over the United States becoming too deeply embroiled in Iraq and Syria. About 62pc of those younger than 30 express this view, a much greater percentage than in older age groups.

Majorities across nearly all demographic groups support the US military campaign against the IS in Iraq and Syria. But there are notable differences in support.

About half of adults (52pc) under 30 approve of US military action, compared with 60pc or more across older age groups. Women are 12 points less likely than men to approve of the US military campaign (57pc vs. 69pc). And while two-thirds of

whites (66pc) approve of US military action in Iraq and Syria, smaller majorities of blacks (57pc) and Hispanics (55pc) agree.

Nearly three-quarters of adults with post-graduate degrees (74pc) approve of the US military campaign, as do 69 percent of college graduates. Among those with less education, 60pc support US military action.

More than half (54pc) of women say they would oppose sending US ground forces to fight Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria, while just 37pc would support this action. Men, on balance, favour the use of US ground forces (51pc favour, 44pc against).

Whites are divided over deploying US ground forces to Iraq and Syria (48pc favour, 45pc oppose), while most blacks (64pc) would oppose the use of US ground forces against Islamic militants there.

While better-educated adults overwhelmingly support US action in Iraq and Syria, they oppose the use of US ground forces.

Among those with post-graduate degrees, 55pc oppose sending US ground forces to fight the IS, while just 39pc favour this. College graduates also oppose the use of US ground forces (52pc to 41pc).

In contrast, those with less education are divided, with nearly as many supporting (45pc) and 47pc opposing the deployment of US ground forces.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2015

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