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Iraq Seen as Greater Threat Than North Korea

Iraq Seen as Greater Threat Than North Korea

But majorities of Americans see both countries as major problems for the United States

by David W. Moore

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- With the Bush administration focusing its attention on a likely war with Iraq, the admission of North Korea last October that it is pursuing a secret program to develop weapons of mass destruction was distracting. Some Democratic political leaders have since argued that North Korea is a more dangerous threat than Iraq because it already has nuclear weapons, while Iraq purportedly is still trying to build or buy them. But officials in the Bush administration cite Iraq as the more immediate threat because of its past military behavior and willingness to engage in chemical warfare.

A new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll finds an American public that is more concerned about Iraq than North Korea, but one that does not dismiss the potential seriousness of the situation with North Korea. Americans are more likely to have followed news about the situation in Iraq than news about the situation with North Korea, and to cite Iraq as the bigger threat. However, about three-quarters of Americans say North Korea's military and weapons capabilities represent either a crisis or a major problem for the United States, and almost half think that country's capabilities are at least as big a threat as Iraq's.

The poll, conducted Jan. 3-5, shows that 89% of Americans have followed the news about Iraq either very (43%) or somewhat (46%) closely. By comparison, 67% of Americans have followed news about North Korea's nuclear program either very (25%) or somewhat (42%) closely.

How Closely Follow News About
Situation in Iraq, North Korea
Jan. 3-5, 2003

The poll also shows that 81% of Americans think Iraq's military and weapons capabilities represent either a crisis (25%) or major problem (56%) for the United States. Almost three-quarters of Americans (74%) hold a similar view about North Korea, with 14% saying the capabilities present a crisis, while another 60% say they are a major problem.

Seriousness of Situation in -- Iraq, North Korea -- for the United States
Jan. 3-5, 2003

Similarly, 86% of Americans say it is "very important" to prevent Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction, only slightly more than the 77% who say that about North Korea.

Few Americans (18%) agree with some Democrats that North Korea is a bigger threat than Iraq, while a small majority (51%) accepts the Bush administration's argument that Iraq is the bigger threat. But another 28% of Americans say the two countries pose equal threats to the United States, suggesting that about half of all Americans (46%) find North Korea at least as much of a threat as Iraq.

Which Is the Bigger Threat to the United States?
Jan. 3-5, 2003

A large majority of Americans, 72%, believe that the situation involving North Korea can be successfully resolved using only economic and diplomatic efforts, while just 20% disagree. Should the United States be unable to accomplish its goals in North Korea with such efforts, 47% of Americans would favor using military action against North Korea, but virtually an equal number, 48%, would oppose such action. Still, by 61% to 34%, Americans believe the United States could successfully fight both Iraq and North Korea at the same time.

Perceptions of Threat Related to Party Affiliation

Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to echo the Bush administration's view about the greater threat of Iraq, with independents' opinions falling between those of the two parties. For all three groups, more people say Iraq than say North Korea is the greater threat. But 53% of Democrats say North Korea is at least as big a threat as Iraq (22% say North Korea is the greater threat, and 31% say it is as much of a threat as Iraq), while 49% of independents express that view, compared with only 34% of Republicans.

Which Is the Bigger Threat to the United States – Compared by Party?
Jan. 3-5, 2003

Survey Methods

The latest results are based on telephone interviews with 1,000 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Jan. 3-5, 2003. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

How important a goal should each of following be for U.S. military action -- should it be a very important goal, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Preventing Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction

 

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not important at all

No
opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

86%

10

2

1

1



Preventing North Korea from developing weapons of mass destruction

 

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not important at all

No
opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

77%

17

3

2

1



How closely have you been following the news about the situation involving Iraq -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?

 

Very
closely

Somewhat closely

Not too closely


Not at all

No
opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

43%

46

9

2

*



Which of these statements do you think best describes Iraq's military and weapons capabilities -- [ROTATED: it is a crisis for the United States, it is a major problem but is not a crisis, it is a minor problem, (or) it is not a problem for the United States at all]?

 



Crisis


Major problem


Minor problem

Not a problem
at all


No
opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

25%

56

14

3

2



How closely have you been following the news about North Korea's programs to develop weapons of mass destruction -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?

 

Very
closely

Somewhat closely

Not too closely


Not at all

No
opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

25%

42

24

9

0



Do you think the situation involving North Korea can be successfully resolved using only economic and diplomatic efforts, or not?

 

Yes, can be

No, cannot

No opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

72%

20

8



If the United States does not accomplish its goals regarding North Korea with economic and diplomatic efforts, would you favor or oppose using military action against North Korea?

 

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

47%

48

5



Which of these statements do you think best describes North Korea's military and weapons capabilities – [ROTATED: it is a crisis for the United States, it is a major problem but is not a crisis, it is a minor problem, (or) it is not a problem for the United States at all]?

 



Crisis


Major problem


Minor problem

Not a problem
at all


No
opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

14%

60

19

5

2



Do you think the United States can -- or cannot – fight two wars at the same time against Iraq and North Korea and win both wars?

 

Yes, can

No, cannot

No opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

61%

34

5



Which of the following poses the bigger threat to the United States – [ROTATED: Iraq (or) North Korea], or are both equal threats to the United States?

 


Iraq


North Korea

Both equal threats

NEITHER
(vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 3-5

51%

18

28

2

1




Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/7552/Iraq-Seen-Greater-Threat-Than-North-Korea.aspx
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