A significant majority of Americans — some 77% of those polled — see the “development of nuclear weapons by Iran” as a “critical threat”; another 16% see it as “important but not critical”, according to new numbers from Gallup.
ISIS and international terrorism loom largest in Americans' minds as critical threats to U.S. interests over the next decade, the latest Gallup Poll Social Series World Affairs survey reveals. In a winter that has seen acts of unspeakable terrorism, with Obama seeking authorization for military action against the Islamic State, Americans are clearly concerned about Islamic militants and terrorists, the poll results show.
The Islamic State has continually been a focal point on the world stage over the past several months as it has brutally executed hostages -- including several Americans, leading 84% of their fellow citizens to rank the terrorist group as a critical threat. Americans place the threat from international terrorism in general at the same level.
Only two other issues are considered critical threats by a majority of Americans. Although the U.S. has been conducting talks with Iran to reduce or eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities, 77% of Americans still view the development of nuclear weapons by Iran as a critical threat. Sixty-four percent view North Korea as a critical threat.
The conflict in Ukraine may not worry Americans as much -44% perceive it as a critical threat- because they see it as more of a threat to Europe than to the U.S. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is similarly perceived, with 49% of the respondents describing it as a critical threat.
