According to a Pew poll released Tuesday, 57% of Americans don’t think the U.S. has a clear plan in Libya, a seven-point rise since last week, and one that comes after President Obama addressed the country to lay out the nation’s involvement and goals there.
Additionally, only 30% of adult Americans said the U.S. has a clear goal with the campaign in Libya.
Last Monday — two weeks after American and allied forces began launching airstrikes on Muammar Qaddafi’s military installations — Obama delivered a prime time address to the nation laying out his reasons for joining the mission, and detailing what America’s involvement would be going forward.
The poll also found that a bare 50% majority now think the U.S. did the right thing by intervening in Libya, while 37% think it was wrong to intervene.
But moving forward, Americans are strongly opposed to the U.S. arming Libyan rebels, a proposal the White House was rumored to be considering. Fully two-thirds (66%) of Americans oppose sending arms or supplies to rebel forces, versus 25% who support that plan.
The Pew poll was conducted March 30 through April 3 among 1,507 adults nationwide. It has a margin of error of 3.5%.
