Skip to main content

American Anxiety over Middle East Buffets Public Support for US Presence in the Region

RESEARCH Public Opinion Survey by Dina Smeltz and Craig Kafura
Flag of Israel.
Cole Keister

The Middle East remains the focus of what Americans perceive as the leading threats to US security, including international terrorism, the rise of violent Islamic extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, and the possibility of a major terrorist attack in the US.

Key Findings 

While both Republicans and Democrats feel warmly towards Israel, there are partisan divisions on Israel’s role in resolving key problems in the Middle East and on the creation of an independent Palestinian state. 

Americans’ top threats to US security emerge out of the ongoing conflict in Syria, including international terrorism, the rise of violent Islamic extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, and the possibility of those groups carrying out a major terrorist attack in the US. 

​In response, Americans support using US troops to fight against violent Islamic extremist groups in Iraq and Syria.

About the Authors
Senior Fellow, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
Headshot for Dina Smeltz
Dina Smeltz, a polling expert, has more than 25 years of experience designing and fielding international social and political surveys. Prior to joining the Council to lead its annual survey of American attitudes on US foreign policy, she served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department's Office of Research from 1992 to 2008.
Headshot for Dina Smeltz
Assistant Director, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
headshot of Craig Kafura
Craig Kafura is the assistant director for public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project, and a Pacific Forum Young Leader. At the Council, he coordinates work on public opinion and foreign policy and is a regular contributor to the public opinion and foreign policy blog Running Numbers.
headshot of Craig Kafura