Poll: Americans Support Strikes on Iran

David Paul Kuhn passes along some sobering findings from Pew Research:

The public approves of direct negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, although most Americans are not hopeful the talks will succeed. And a strong majority – 61% – says that it is more important to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action. Far fewer (24%) say it is more important to avoid a military conflict with Iran, if it means that the country may develop nuclear weapons.

There is broad willingness across the political spectrum to use military force to prevent Iran from going nuclear. Seven-in-ten Republicans (71%) and two-thirds of independents (66%) say it is more important to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons even if it means taking military action. Fewer Democrats (51%) express this view; still, only about three-in-ten Democrats (31%) say it is more important to avoid a military conflict with Iran, if it means Tehran may develop nuclear weapons.

One of the problems with formulating the question of "military action" is that it makes it sound as if Iran will be the passive recipient of a bombing campaign. While that may indeed be the case, it could very well be that Iran hits back. There are a range of retaliatory measures available to the Islamic Republic - from a stepped up campaign of covert activity against American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, to attacks on ships moving through Hormuz or to terrorism directed against American civilians. In other words, we are not necessarily contemplating "military action" against Iran but a war against Iran - a very different, and far more dangerous, thing.