While Republicans Rant About Benghazi and IRS, Public Mostly Yawns

President Obama and his administration now find themselves in the middle of not one but two tough situations: the tragic killing of four Americans at a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, and the Internal Revenue Service’s scrutiny of tea-party and other conservative groups. … Perhaps the best way to determine […] Read more »

Americans Least Favorable Toward Iran

Nearly nine in 10 Americans have an unfavorable view of Iran, making it the worst rated country out of 22 surveyed. Seven other countries — Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Pakistan, and North Korea — also receive unfavorable ratings of 70% or more. Eighty percent or more of […] Read more »

On Eve of Foreign Debate, Growing Pessimism about Arab Spring Aftermath

As next week’s third and final presidential debate on foreign policy approaches, a national survey by the Pew Research Center finds increasing public pessimism about developments in the Middle East and more support for tough policies to deal with Iran’s nuclear program and economic issues with China. However, there is […] Read more »

Middle East Turmoil Closely Followed; Romney’s Comments Viewed Negatively

About four-in-ten Americans (43%) have followed news about the attacks on U.S. embassies in the Middle East and the killing of an American ambassador very closely, making it by far the most closely followed foreign news story of the year. Those who have followed this story have much more positive […] Read more »

History Shows Attack on Americans in Libya Could Spur Rally Effect

Most domestic and international events, no matter how tragic, are subject to being swept up in the maw of the heated, no-holds-barred presidential campaign we are in now. Both campaigns’ war rooms are constantly adjusting and readjusting their positionings, reactions, public statements, and actions relating to almost anything that becomes […] Read more »