Still, despite reports that U.S. airstrikes killed Mohammad Atef, a top military aide to Osama bin Laden, just 28 percent of those polled say it’s very likely the U.S. military will be able to capture or kill bin Laden himself. If the U.S. were to capture or kill bin Laden, 44 percent say it will make a martyr of the al-Qaeda leader and inspire others to commit acts of terrorism, while 47 percent say bin Laden’s capture or death would reduce the chances of further attacks.
Americans are also divided on what it will take for the United States to eliminate the threat of future acts of terrorism against Americans by the al-Qaeda network. Just 11 percent say such attacks will be avoided by killing bin Laden, 43 percent say it will also be necessary to capture or kill other top leaders in the organization. And 40 percent say even removing top leaders will not eliminate the threat because too many cells and potential leaders would remain.
With the Taliban losing power, 40 percent of those polled say the United Nations should take responsibility for shaping a new government in Afghanistan. Only 17 percent say the United States should keep order and prevent human-rights abuses in the country, while 22 percent say it should be left to the Northern Alliance and Afghani people to figure out for themselves.
President George W. Bush’s job approval rating remained steady at 85 percent in the NEWSWEEK Poll. About two-thirds (66 percent) of Americans polled say they have a lot of confidence in Bush to deal with terrorism and protect national security. But just one-quarter of those polled say they have a lot of faith in Bush’s appointed Homeland Security Director, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.
American’s confidence in air safety has declined from last week’s NEWSWEEK poll, following Monday’s crash of an American Airlines jetliner in New York City. Thirty-seven percent say they are less likely to fly in the next 12 months (up from 27 percent a week earlier), and 31 percent say air travel is less safe today than five years ago. Only 35 percent of fliers are very confident in the safety of the plane, and just 17 percent are very confident in airport security preventing terrorists from bringing bombs or weapons on the plane.
To improve the security of baggage inspection at airports, a 58-percent majority of Americans polled support making baggage screeners federal employees, as mandated in the aviation security bill passed by Congress on Friday.
The terror attacks have also prompted Americans to spend more time in their homes. More than a third (35%) are choosing to spend more time eating and entertaining at home than going out. Sixty percent say they’ve decided to spend more time with their family and 63 percent have made a greater effort to tell family members and close friends that they love them.
For this NEWSWEEK poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates interviewed by telephone 1,000 adults aged 18 and older on Nov. 15 to Nov. 16. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
