Fewer Teens than Adults Nationwide Support Military Action Against Iraq
New Harris Interactive survey shows teenagers have less confidence than adults in President Bush to make right decisions regarding Iraq
Rochester, NY—March 6, 2003—Although half (51%) of American teens feel it will not be possible to prevent Saddam Hussein from making or hiding weapons of mass destruction without a military attack on Iraq, fewer teens (34%) than adults (45%) favor a military attack on Iraq if President Bush believes Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction but the UN weapons inspectors can’t find any, and if the United Nations does not vote to approve such an attack. And, while 45% of teens say that President Bush has convinced them that Saddam Hussein is sufficiently dangerous to justify military action, an equal number (46%) says they are not confident that President Bush will make the right decisions regarding the use of force against Iraq.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® conducted online by Harris Interactive® among a nationwide sample of 2,271 adults and 925 teenagers from February 12 to 25, 2003.
Some of the main findings of this survey are:
Teenagers in America have less confidence in President Bush than adults do, with 44% of teens and 58% of adults saying they are very or somewhat confident that President Bush will make the right decisions.
Teens (34%) would be less likely than adults (45%) to support a military attack on Iraq if President Bush believes Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction but the UN weapons inspectors can’t find any, and if the United Nations does not vote to approve such an attack.
While teens believe there is a link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda, they are less convinced than adults, with 69% of teens and 78% of adults thinking there is either some link or a close link between them.
Forty-five percent (45%) of teens feel that President Bush has convinced them that Saddam Hussein is sufficiently dangerous to justify military action against him, while 32% are not convinced and 23% are not sure.
Almost two-thirds (65%) of teens feel that President Bush would prefer a military attack on Iraq than to achieve his main goals without attacking Iraq. Just over half (52%) of adults felt this way.
“America’s teenagers are less certain than adults about their opinions regarding Iraq,” said John Geraci, vice president of youth research for Harris Interactive. “They feel that President Bush wants an attack rather than a peaceful resolution, and they feel that removing Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction is the most justifiable reason for an attack. Yet, unlike adults, proportionately more teens than adults are opposed to a military attack on Iraq.”
TABLE 1
CONFIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT WILL MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS ON IRAQ
“How much confidence do you have that President Bush and his administration will make the right decisions regarding the use, or non-use, of the US military to attack Iraq?”
TABLE 2
FAVOR OR OPPOSE ATTACK WITHOUT NEW UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION
“Would you favor or oppose a military attack on Iraq if President Bush believes Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction but the UN weapons inspectors can’t find any, and the United Nations does not vote to approve such an attack?”
TABLE 3
LINK BETWEEN HUSSEIN AND AL QAEDA
“Do you think there is a link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda?”
TABLE 4
DOES BUSH PREFER TO ACHIEVE GOALS WITH MILITARY ATTACK
“Overall, do you feel that President Bush wants a military attack on Iraq or that he’d prefer to achieve his main goals without attacking Iraq?”
Methodology
The Harris Poll® was conducted online within the United States between February 19 and 25, 2003, among a nationwide cross section of 2,271 adults (ages 18+) and between February 12 and 18, 2003, among a nationwide cross section of 925 teenagers (ages 13-19). Figures for age, sex, race, education and number of adults in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. “Propensity score” weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.
ALSO SEE:
Student speeches and essays
What students know about Iraq
Youth debate war online
Mock UN Security Council
Student protests in the news
|
