Egyptian thoughts

Almost half of Republicans and Democrats say the U.S. should be involved in Egypt, while almost half of Independents think the U.S. should not be involved, according to a recent The Harris Poll.

The poll asked the question: “Should the U.S. sit on the sidelines or is it more appropriate for U.S. diplomats to be front and center on this issue?”

Of the 2,060 online respondents, 43% believe the U.S. should be involved, with 12% saying very involved and 31% saying somewhat involved. Almost the same number (42%) believe the United States should not be involved with 21% each saying not very involved and not at all involved, while 15% of Americans are not at all sure how involved the U.S. should be.

The poll was conducted between Feb. 2-4.

“The political unrest in Egypt is not likely to disappear any time in the near future. Things may calm, but the tension will still be simmering. And, even when President Mubarak is no longer in power, there is no guarantee that the unrest will be over,” noted a statement with the poll results. “Americans are all watching events unfold but, at the moment, seem to be unclear as to the level of involvement the United States should have. As things evolve there, likely so will attitudes in the U.S.”

POLL FINDINGS
• Almost half (48%) of those 55 and older as well as 45% of those 18-34 believe that the United States should be involved.

• Those 35-44 and 45-54 are of a different mind. Almost half (47%) of both of these age groups say the United States should not be involved in Egypt. In fact, over one-quarter of those 45-54 (26%) say the U.S. should not be involved at all.

• Almost half of Democrats (48%) and Republicans (48%) say the U.S. should be involved while 40% of Republicans and 37% of Democrats say the U.S. should not be involved.

• Independents, however, think differently. Almost half of them (47%) say the United States should not be involved in the current unrest while two in five Independents (40%) believe the U.S. should be involved.