PNN – Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, Americans are more concerned about domestic extremism and terrorism than foreign terrorism.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; a Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that, twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, Americans’ concerns regarding domestic extremism and terrorism have surpassed those regarding foreign terrorism.
In the survey, conducted between August 28 and 31 with 1,167 American adults participating, 33 percent identified “domestic terrorism” as the greatest threat to American security; 20 percent cited foreign terrorism as the primary threat, while 42 percent pointed to random acts of violence, such as mass shootings.
This situation has changed significantly since 2013; at that time, 28 percent viewed foreign terrorism—and 21 percent domestic terrorism—as the greatest threat.
Regarding ideologically motivated attacks, 61 percent of Americans consider domestic extremists the greater threat, while 34 percent view foreign groups or individuals as the primary danger.
Despite the passage of 25 years, the memory of 9/11 remains vivid. About 60 percent of Americans say they still think about the attacks from time to time, and roughly the same proportion support a military response in the event of another major attack.
At the same time, American sentiment regarding post-9/11 wars has become increasingly negative. A majority believes the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were not worth the cost, and 54 percent do not support a U.S. war against Iran.
Trump himself initiated a conflict with Iran six months ago—a conflict that, despite promises of a quick conclusion, has become a quagmire. The poll revealed that only 25% of Americans believe the conflict was worth it, while 54% believe it was not.
Additionally, 60 percent believe that post-9/11 security measures have been somewhat effective in preventing terrorist attacks. However, 65 percent oppose the monitoring of citizens’ electronic communications by U.S. intelligence agencies without a court order.