Poll: Americans split on taking military action in Iran

Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Americans are concerned about Iran's nuclear program but split on whether military action should be taken if diplomacy and economic sanctions fail to stop it, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.

    The findings, released here on Tuesday, also indicated a partisan divide over how to respond.

    While 46 percent of those surveyed say military action should be taken either now or if diplomacy fails, 45 percent rule it out in either case.

    Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to endorse taking military action.

    "If you had more follow-on questions on what if the military action was unilateral, (for instance) then support would tend to diminish," says Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland.

    "But it does indicate that approximately half of Americans are concerned enough that they would at least seriously consider it, and that's worth noting," he said.

    Tough talk from the Bush administration about Iran's nuclear program seems to have generated concern about a potential threat and alarm about the prospect for premature U.S. military action.

    The poll was conducted among 1,024 adults via telephone from Friday through Sunday.

    Meanwhile, President George W. Bush reached an unwelcome record.

    By 64 percent to 31 percent, poll respondents disapprove of thejob he is doing.

    For the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50 percent say they "strongly disapprove" of the president.

    Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48 percent, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.