What happened to the rising isolationist sentiment I have documented in recent columns? Just three months ago I concluded, “Isolationism is extending its grip on public opinion.” Americans wanted to be less involved in world affairs and eschewed involvement in a variety of global crises.
Now, seemingly all of a sudden, 83 percent of Americans in the CNN/ORC poll favor “providing humanitarian aid to people in Iraq and Syria.” Three-quarters support military airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) forces in Iraq and Syria, though a clear majority remains opposed to committing U.S. ground forces to the fight. …
In short order, Americans moved from feeling no responsibility to deal with ISIS and opposing any involvement to supporting airstrikes and arms for combatants. What happened?
Two things: CONT.
Mark Mellman (Mellman Group), The Hill
Recent polls: ISIS