Friday, January 13, 2006

Patriot Act in question? By who?

The latest Fox News poll has some interesting data on Americans' views of the war against terror, and the NSA spying-on-al-Qaeda program:

24. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed the Patriot Act which, in part, gives federal officials wider authority to use wiretaps and other surveillance techniques. Some people say the Patriot Act is a necessary and effective tool in preventing terrorist attacks, while others say the act goes too far and could violate the civil liberties of average Americans. Which comes closer to your view -- overall, would you say the Patriot Act is a good thing for America or a bad thing for America?

Good: 53%
Bad: 30%
Mixed: 13%

26. Based on what you know, do you support or oppose extending the Patriot Act when it comes up for renewal?

Support: 57%
Oppose: 31%
Not sure: 11%

29. When you hear of government officials anonymously leaking top-secret national security information to the press, are you more inclined to think of the officials as patriots who are blowing the whistle because they think something illegal might be going on, or traitors who are leaking government secrets and possibly causing harm to the country?

Whistle-blowers: 27%
Traitors: 50%
Not sure: 23%

30. Do you think the president should or should not have the power to authorize the National Security Agency to monitor electronic communications of suspected terrorists without getting warrants, even if one end of the communication is in the United States?

Should: 58%
Should not: 36%
Not sure: 6%

31. In an effort to identify terrorist activity, do you think the president should or should not have the power to authorize the National Security Agency to do computer searches of large numbers of international phone calls coming in and out of the United States without getting warrants?

Should: 60%
Should not: 34%
Not sure: 7%

Via The StrataSphere.

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