Osama bin Laden

How closely are you following the news about the U.S. military finding and killing Osama bin Laden -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?

Do you approve or disapprove of the U.S. military action that killed Osama bin Laden?

How important do you think it is to the U.S. that Osama bin Laden was killed -- extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important?

Do you think it would have been better for the U.S. to -- [capture Osama bin Laden alive, (or to) kill Osama bin Laden]?

Prior to hearing the news that Osama bin Laden was killed, did you think it was likely or unlikely that the U.S. would ever capture or kill bin Laden?

Do you think the death of Osama bin Laden will make the U.S. safer or less safe from terrorism?

Does the death of Osama bin Laden make you more confident that the U.S. can succeed in the war against Islamic terrorism, or not? [IF YES, PROBE: Does it make you a lot more confident or only a little more confident?]

Does the death of Osama bin Laden make you more confident in Barack Obama as commander-in-chief, or not? [IF YES, PROBE: Does it make you a lot more confident or only a little more confident?]

How much credit do you give each of the following for the actions that led to the U.S. finding and killing Osama bin Laden -- a great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or none at all? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Barack Obama

George W. Bush

The CIA

The U.S. military

How likely is it that the U.S. will be able to capture or kill Osama bin Laden -- very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?

How important do you think it is to the U.S. that Osama bin Laden be captured or killed -- extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important?

Just your best guess, do you think Osama bin Laden himself is currently planning a significant terrorist attack against the United States, or not?

Do you think Osama bin Laden will -- or will not -- succeed in launching this attack?

[BASED ON ADULTS WHO SAY OSAMA BIN LADEN IS CURRENTLY PLANNING A SIGNIFICANT TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST THE UNITED STATES]

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

Just your best guess, do you think it is likely -- or unlikely -- that Osama bin Laden will be captured or killed in 2006?

Just your best guess, do you think Osama bin Laden himself is currently planning a significant terrorist attack against the United States, or not?

Do you think Osama bin Laden will -- or will not -- succeed in launching this attack?

[BASED ON ADULTS WHO SAY OSAMA BIN LADEN IS CURRENTLY PLANNING A SIGNIFICANT TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST THE UNITED STATES]

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

If Osama bin Laden is captured or killed, do you think -- [ROTATED: the threat to the U.S. from the al Qaeda terrorist network will be eliminated, (or) the al Qaeda terrorist network will still remain a threat to the U.S.]?

Just your best guess, do you think there are terrorists associated with Osama bin Laden who are currently in the United States and are capable of launching a major terrorist attack against the U.S., or not?

Do you expect that these terrorists will commit an act of terrorism in the United States in -- less than three months, less than six months, less than one year, less than two years, in longer than two years, or never?

[BASED ON 862 WHO SAY THERE ARE TERRORISTS ASSOCIATED WITH BIN LADEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE U.S. CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING MAJOR ATTACKS]

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

Which comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: the U.S. accomplishments in Afghanistan will be a success even if Osama bin Laden is not captured, (or) the U.S. accomplishments in Afghanistan will not be a success until Osama bin Laden is captured]?

Just your best guess, how many Muslims do you think admire Osama bin Laden -- all, most, some, only a few, or none at all?

Just your best guess, do you think Osama bin Laden is alive or dead?

Suppose Osama bin Laden is discovered in a country outside of Afghanistan and the government of that country says it is unable to capture him. Do you think the U.S. should rely on military force -- or non-military measures -- to try to bring bin Laden to justice?

[BASED ON 527 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±5 PCT. PTS.]

Suppose Osama bin Laden is discovered in a country outside of Afghanistan and the government of that country allows him to stay in that country and refuses to try to capture him. Do you think the U.S. should rely on military force -- or non-military measures -- to try to bring bin Laden to justice?

[BASED ON 481 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; ±5 PCT. PTS.]

If Osama bin Laden is captured or killed and his terrorist network in Afghanistan is destroyed, should the United States -- [ROTATED: end its current military action and bring most U.S. military forces home, (or) actively use U.S. military forces in other countries that harbor terrorists]?

[BASED ON 485 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±5 PCT. PTS.]

Which comes closer to your view about what capturing or killing Osama bin Laden means for the U.S. -- [ROTATED: it will mean the U.S. has accomplished its goals in the war on terrorism, (or) it will be just one step in a long campaign against terrorism worldwide]?

[BASED ON 534 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; ±2 PCT. PTS.]

Based on what you have heard or read about the videotape of Osama bin Laden, which of the following comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: it proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he helped to plan the September 11^th terrorist attacks, (or) it proves that he was happy the September 11^th terrorist attacks occurred, but did not prove that he helped to plan them]?

Suppose Osama bin Laden is captured alive and put on trial, do you think he should be tried by -- [ROTATED: an international court, (or by) U.S. authorities]?

[BASED ON 485 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±5 PCT. PTS.]

Suppose Osama bin Laden is captured alive and put on trial by the U.S., would you rather see that happen in -- [ROTATED: a regular court of law in which evidence would be presented in a public trial, (or) a military tribunal in which U.S. officers would examine evidence in secret hearings]?

[BASED ON 485 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±5 PCT. PTS.]

Suppose Osama bin Laden is captured alive, put on trial, and found guilty. Do you think he should be -- [ROTATED: sentenced to death, (or should he be) sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole]?

[BASED ON 485 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±5 PCT. PTS.]

In your opinion, which of the following would be better for the U.S. -- [ROTATED: if Osama bin Laden is killed, (or) if Osama bin Laden is captured alive]?

Suppose Osama bin Laden is captured alive by the U.S., which of the following would be better for the U.S. to do to him -- [ROTATED: execute him immediately, (or) put him on either a civilian or a military trial]?

Suppose Osama bin Laden is captured alive and put on trial, which of the following would you prefer -- that he be -- [ROTATED: put on a public trial by an international court with judges from different countries, put on trial by a secret military tribunal by the U.S., (or) put on a public trial in a regular civilian court in the U.S.], or would it make no difference to you?

Based on what you have heard or read, how do you feel about Osama bin Laden's role in the September 11^th terrorist attacks -- [ROTATED: you have no doubts whatsoever that he is guilty, you think he is guilty but have some doubts, (or) you do not think he is guilty]?

How confident are you that each of the following will happen -- very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. The U.S. will capture or kill Osama bin Laden

B. The U.S. will remove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan

C. The U.S. will destroy all terrorist operations in Afghanistan

Overall, how much do you blame each of the following for the terrorist attacks this past Tuesday -- a great deal, a moderate amount, only a little, or not at all? How about -- [ITEMS A-E ROTATED, THEN ITEM E]?

[BASED ON 514 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; ±5 PCT. PTS.]

A. Afghanistan

B. Iraq

C. Pakistan

D. Palestinians

E. Fundamentalist Muslim leaders

F. Osama bin Laden