Ten Years After 9/11: American Opinions

ten Years After 9/11A TIME / Aspen Ideas Festival Poll, conducted by Penn Schoen Berland
©Penn, schoen & berland associates, llc.
June 30, 2011

Survey methodology
On behalf of TIME and the Aspen Ideas Festival, Penn Schoen Berland conducted 2,017 interviews with the adult general population of the United States.
1,008 interviews were conducted by phone
1,009 interviews were conducted online
Interviews were conducted from June 1 - 8, 2011
The margin of error is ±2.18% and larger for subgroups.
The data presented in this study are reflective of the U.S. Census Bureau demographic statistics in terms of gender, age, ethnicity, income, education, region, and urbanicity.
The main objective of the study was to understand American attitudes about the impact on our nation and ourselves of 9/11 – a singular event in our national history – with the perspective that ten years provides.
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A Decade of decline
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The decade’s defining moment: September 11, 2001
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What was the single most important EVENT in the past decade? OPEN-END
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Most say THE EVENTS OF 9/11 Weakened THE UNITED STATES
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To what extent did the events of 9/11 weaken the U.S.?
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Just 6% believe the country has recovered from 9/11 completely
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To what extent do you think that the United States has recovered from the events of 9/11?
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68% of Americans say it has been A decade of decline for the u.s.
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Overall, do you think the past decade has been one of progress or decline for the United States as a country?
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71% say the country is in a worse position than it was a decade ago
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Generally speaking, do you think the U.S. is in a better or worse position than it was a decade ago, or is it about the same?
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47% say this was One of the worst decades in the past century
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In your opinion, how does the past decade compare to the other decades in the past hundred years? Would you say this past decade has been one of the best in the past century, one of the worst, or has it been about the same?
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The quality of life has declined for many groups of Americans
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Please indicate whether you think the overall quality of life has improved, declined, or stayed the same in the past decade for each of the following groups of people living in the United States.
Upper class Americans
Gays and lesbians
African-
Americans
Hispanics
Immigrants
Muslims
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Seniors
Young adults
Middle class Americans
Working class Americans

Majority of Americans thinks the next generation will be worse off
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When children in the U.S. grow up, do you think they will be better off or worse off than people are now?
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ATTITUDES TOWARDS Terrorism and foreign policy
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4 in 5 say major terrorist attack at least somewhat likely in the next decade
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How likely do you think it is that a major terrorist attack will take place in the U.S. in the next decade? Do you think it is…?
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Washington d.c. and new york city perceived as the most likely targets
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If there is another major terrorist attack in the U.S. in the next decade, in which city is it most likely to take place?
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49% at least somewhat concerned about being a victim of terrorism in the next decade
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How concerned are you that you will become a victim of a terrorism in the next decade?
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Plurality says the killing of bin laden has increased the threat of terrorism
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In your opinion, has the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces increased the threat of terrorism against the United States, decreased, or has it had no effect on the threat of terrorism against the U.S.?
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The killing of bin laden gives a sense of closure to fewer than 2 in 5 Americans
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Does the killing of Osama bin Laden give you a sense of closure for September 11, 2001?
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7 in 10 think that Pakistani government officials knowingly harbored bin laden
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Do you think Pakistani government officials were knowingly harboring Osama bin Laden, or did they now know his location?
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3 IN 4 WANT TO CUT BACK U.S. FOREIGN AID TO PAKISTAN
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In 2011 the United States government has promised roughly $4.5 billion in military and non-military aid to Pakistan. In the future, do you think the amount of aid to Pakistan should be…?
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40% want the u.s. to end its combat operations in Afghanistan before 2014
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The Obama Administration plans to end the U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan by 2014. Do you think the pace of the planned withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan is too fast, too slow, or about right?
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68% say no deal should ever be made with the Taliban
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Which is closer to your view?
The United States should encourage the government of Afghanistan to pursue a deal with the Taliban to stabilize the country
No deal should ever be made with the Taliban
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IMPLICATIONS FOR POLITICS AND THE FUTURE
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Americans blame their leaders
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IF U.S. IS IN A WORSE POSITION (N=1,440) : Which of these, if any, is most to blame for the U.S. being in a worse position than it was a decade ago?
Showing All (N=1,440)
* Other includes: Special interest groups (5%), immigrants (3%), labor unions (2%), and other (3%)

Americans want their leaders to focus on domestic issues
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In your opinion, what is more important for the United States to focus on in the next decade?
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The greatest threats come primarily from within the u.s.
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Do the greatest threats to long-term stability in the United States come primarily from within the United States or do they come from outside the United States?
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Internal threats greater than external threats
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Please indicate whether each of the following presents a major threat, minor threat, or no threat at all to long-term stability in the United States. Showing % Major threat
Internal Threat
External Threat
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71% say The major threats are within our control as a country
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Which is closer to your view?
The threats affecting the long-term stability of the U.S. are mostly OUTSIDE our control as a country.
The threats affecting the long-term stability of the U.S. are mostly WITHIN our control as a country.
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Only 10% think that internal threats are being addressed very effectively
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How effectively are we, as a country, addressing the threats that are WITHIN our control?
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Internal Threats that need to be addressed more effectively
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IF NOT EFFECTIVELY (N=1,040): What specific threats that are WITHIN our control, are not being addressed effectively? OPEN-END
* A word cloud is a visual representation of free-form text, with a larger font size indicating a greater number of respondents referenced the term in their response

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