In the last week, protests in Libya against the Gaddafi government have turned into battles between the rebels and the government. While U.S. opinion about what to do hasn't changed much in the week, the latest Economist/YouGov Poll finds growing party differences in opinion about how Americans and the rest of the world should respond, with Republicans more in support of military actions and Democrats more in favor of humanitarian aid.
How should the international community respond to events in Libya? Please check all options that you support.
| Total | Democrat | Republican | |
|---|---|---|---|
Apply Sanctions | 54% | 51% | 59% |
Send humanitarian aid | 44% | 47% | 38% |
Evacuate refugees | 50% | 52% | 48% |
Intervene militarily | 15% | 11% | 21% |
Impose a "no-fly-zone" over Libya | 42% | 38% | 54% |
None of these | 15% | 15% | 13% |
| |||
Members of both parties favor imposing sanctions on Libya, and evacuating refugees from that country. But a majority of Republicans, like their party leaders, would support the enforcement of a "no fly" zone there. Like President Obama, Democrats are less clearly in favor of such an action. Just 38% of Democrats favor enforcing a "no fly" zone over Libya. And while one in five Republicans would favor military intervention in Libya, fewer Democrats would. As in last week's poll, more Democrats than Republicans favor humanitarian aid.Those who are aware of the protests in Libya (84% of all Americans) generally approve of how the President is responding. 48% approve, while 33% disapprove. That is an improvement from last week (then, 42% approved and 35% disapproved).
