Poll finds broad support for Obama’s counterterrorism policies
The sharpest edges of President Obamas counterterrorism policy, including the use of drone aircraft to kill suspected terrorists abroad and keeping open the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have broad public support, including from the left wing of the Democratic Party.
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that Obama, who campaigned on a pledge to close the brig at Guantanamo Bay and to change national security policies he criticized as inconsistent with U.S. law and values, has little to fear politically for failing to live up to all of those promises.
The findings also highlight the dilemma of Republican front-runner Mitt Romney and other GOP rivals, who have portrayed Obama as weak abroad and politically motivated in moving to end Americas two long wars.
Attacking Obamas national security policies, the poll suggests, may do more harm than good to Republican presidential candidates at a time when many Americans favor a national security approach that relies more on technology than troops. By better than 2 to 1 Americans say the presidents handling of terrorism is a major reason to support rather than oppose his bid for reelection.
more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/poll-finds-broad-support-for-obamas-counterterrorism-policies/2012/02/07/gIQAFrSEyQ_story.html?hpid=z3
Justice wanted
(2,657 posts)security deserves neither Liberty or Security. Durning the past 10 years we have given up or "Allowed" ourselves to be "PROTECTED" at the price of our freedom and constitution.
Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)You cannot have complete freedom if we are to have any security.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Really a committed enough assassin, bomber, or terrorist is going to eventually find a way. So really there is no perfect security in that regard. The most that exists is an illusion of security that deters would-be bad guys and provides comfort to those in a panic over terrorists. There is a certain degree to which we shuck our liberties for too much illusory protection form a mostly non-existent threat. We have moved back from the extremes of the Bush administration in this regard, but we have not moved back far enough away from the politics of fear.
Justice wanted
(2,657 posts)with Police officers looking like and acting like bullying thugs?
Are you happy that your Constitutional rights such as 1,3,4,5 7, 8th amendments being strip away from you?
How much of your constitutional rights do you want to give up in order to have balance of security?
For me What is happrning today is a slap to the founding fathers AND allowing the terrorist-more importantly the freakin Military complex to win.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)stockholmer
(3,751 posts)limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)But I actually think he has done very well with the afghanistan/pakistan portion of the war. The drone strikes are horrible but if he doesn't go after terrorists, he's not doing his primary job of defending the American peolple. The alternative to drone strikes would be much worse, in my opinion.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)IMO that particular area was already operating at maximum terrorist creation capacity long before we started the drone strikes. That's partly how we ended up there.
Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)they do not wear uniforms nor carry terrorist membership cards
I found the President's statement the other day that not very many civilians have been killed by drones very disturbing
Justice wanted
(2,657 posts)Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)Obama has managed to get people to approve of policies they used to detest.
I wish he would use this power the other way around.