Study Also Finds Most Americans Believe Saudi Arabia Also Supports Terror;  

Desert Kingdom Not Seen as Reliable U.S. Ally

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-six percent of Americans believe that Iraq supports Al Qaeda or other international terrorist groups, according to a new national public opinion poll conducted January 31 to February 4 by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research.

Says Dr. Gary A. Tobin, President of the Institute, "While some argue that the war against terrorism and the war against Iraq are somehow separate, the American public clearly sees the connection."

Fifty-three percent of Americans believe the Saudi government also supports Al Qaeda or other international terrorist groups.  In comparison, 44 percent of Americans believe North Korea supports terrorist groups and 42 percent answered that Syria supports terrorism.  Only 26 percent believe the Saudis do NOT support terrorism.

A small minority -- fewer than one-quarter of Americans (23%) -- regards Saudi Arabia as a reliable ally in the battle against terrorism.  Commented Sid Groeneman, a research associate who helped developed the survey, "It appears that most Americans now see the Saudis as part of the problem rather than part of the solution."

Outdistancing Saudi Arabia in Americans' perceived support for Al Qaeda or other international terrorist groups were Iraq (76%), Iran (62%), and Yasir Arafat and the Palestinian Authority (60%).

Perceptions of Saudi Arabia's support of international terrorism have increased in the past year.  In response to a similar question asked one year earlier (in early February, 2002; that question did not refer to Al Qaeda specifically), 44 percent said they thought the government of Saudi Arabia supports terrorism -- nine points lower than the current survey.

Perceptions of terrorist backing from Syria and North Korea are also higher now than 12 months ago, each up six points.   Perceptions that Iraq supports terrorism have increased five percentage points.  Views about Iran's support for terrorism are virtually unchanged since February 2002 (up two percentage points -- a non-significant difference).

The poll also asked about Americans' opinions of other U.S. allies.

Great Britain is seen as our staunchest ally in the fight against terrorism.  Eighty-one percent say Great Britain is a reliable ally; only 8 percent say they are not.  Israel is also regarded as a reliable ally -- by a margin of nearly 3 to 1 (60% yes; 21% no).                                         

Dr. Tobin said, "Although less publicly supportive of the U.S. than Great Britain (for strategic reasons), Israel is nevertheless seen as a reliable ally in this international campaign."

Americans Believe Saudi Government Should Change  

The survey also asked about Americans' attitudes toward Saudi Arabia's current government.  A majority would prefer a democratic form of government.

-- Fifty-three percent said they favor the Saudi Royal Family gradually  

being replaced by a democratic government.

-- Twenty three percent oppose having the Royal Family relinquish control.

The remaining 24 percent did not have an opinion on this question or  

refused to answer.

These findings cited above come from a poll conducted under the auspices of the Institute for Jewish & Community Research, San Francisco, an independent, non-partisan think tank which provides innovative research and pragmatic policy analyses to Jewish and other communities around the world. The survey was administered by International Communications Research (ICR), a leading polling firm that does work for ABC News, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press.

The sample consisted of 1,002 randomly selected adults from across the country.  Percentage estimates based on the full sample are accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.  As in all surveys, other factors beside the sample can affect the accuracy of the results.

SOURCE  Institute for Jewish & Community Research  
CO:  Institute for Jewish & Community Research; International Communications  Research
ST:  California
SU:  SVY
http://www.prnewswire.com

02/11/2003 15:28 EST