Poll: Most Americans Oppose Sending Ground Troops To Fight ISIS

Juliegrace Brufke

Over half of Americans are against sending ground troops to Syria or Iraq to fight ISIS militants, a Gallup poll released Thursday found.

Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said they oppose the idea, down one percent from a poll taken in September, 2014. Forty-three percent said they were in favor of putting boots on the ground, and 4 percent said they had no opinion.

The survey results come as the United States steps up its airstrikes against rebel groups in Syria.

Republicans and conservatives were more likely to support sending troops, with 56 percent and 54 percent respectively saying they approve. Thirty-seven percent of Democrats, 31 percent of liberals, 41 percent of moderates and 39 percent of independents were in favor of deploying troops.

“The issue has been politicized at home, including by Republicans during the presidential debate this week,” Gallup said. “While several of the candidates — including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — have spoken in favor of sending troops, they have questioned the president’s strategy, with some candidates suggesting the deployment was late or did not use enough troops to accomplish the task.”

A 2014 survey showed 60 percent approved of military action, but 54 percent said they were against sending ground forces.

The results were based on the phone interviews of a random sampling of 1,025 people across the country over the age of 18 from Nov. 4-8 and leave a margin of error of plus or minus four.

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