Poll: Iran, Syria, Saudis support terror

WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- A growing number of Americans believe that Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia are supporting terrorism, a new poll indicates.

The study was conducted by the Alliance for Research on National Security Issues, a project developed by Clifford May, president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies; and Frank Gaffney, who heads the Center for Security Policy, and overseen by San Francisco pollster Gary Tobin.

"Frank Gaffney and I contribute questions that we want to find answers to," May told United Press International in a telephone interview.

Respondents were asked: "Does (the country) support al-Qaida or other international terrorist groups?"

The most dramatic finding is that the number of Americans distrustful of Syria rose sharply since January, from 43 percent to 63 percent. As recently as January, 38 percent of Americans had no opinion about Syria's role in supporting terrorism, a number that declined to 22 percent during the May 7-11 polling period.

Further, 75 percent of Americans say they believe that Syria definitely (37 percent) or probably (38 percent) helped the Iraqi military in the recent war, while 11 percent believe Syria probably or definitely did not.

"President Bush has talked about Syria's role in supporting Saddam Hussein and the possibility that Syria was trying to assist Saddam Hussein and/or his deputies in the aftermath of the war," May told UPI. "We know that Syria was earning substantial amounts of money by illegally exporting Iraqi oil under the sanctions. The pipeline was shut down by the U.S. military and is likely to stay shut down as a form of pressure. And then you have (Syrian leader) Bashar Assad saying a number of things against the U.S. intervention."

Ten percent of U.S. adults trust Syria to honor its recent promise to Secretary of State Colin Powell to close offices of terrorist groups operating inside the country and not aid terrorists in other ways. The rest holding an opinion on this question were split between thinking that Syria will not close the terrorists' offices and continue assisting them (36 percent) and that Syria will close the offices but continue to assist the terrorists in other ways (35 percent).

"Americans' impression of Assad and of Syria is that they cannot be trusted to do as they say," May said. "More sophisticated respondents will remember how many times during the Clinton administration high-ranking envoys were sent to Syria and how few positive results came about."

May, citing published reports, said Assad has backtracked from the assurances he gave to the U.S. secretary of State. "He did not acknowledge that he told Colin Powell that he was going to close down the offices of the terrorist organizations in Damascus," May said.

The number of Americans perceiving Iranian support for terrorism rose nine points since January. This put Iran at the top of the list at 71 percent, followed by Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority at 64 percent, Syria at 63 percent, Saudi Arabia at 59 percent, Libya at 56 percent and North Korea at 46 percent.

"In terms of Iran, the number is very high, but from what we know it hasn't changed drastically," May said. "I think the impressions of Iran were formed a long time ago, perhaps as long ago as 1979, when Ayatollah (Ruhollah) Khomeini came to power and when our embassy was taken over." Other more recent events have reinforced that view.

"I think a large number of Americans have heard about the possibility that Iran is attempting to meddle in Iraq and perhaps has heard of the possibility of Iran being linked to al-Qaida terrorism. There's certainly the belief within the current administration that there are al-Qaida leaders in eastern Iran right now," May said.

On Tuesday Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld hinted to reporters that Iran-based al-Qaida operatives were involved in the May 12 Riyadh bombings. On Wednesday United Press International quoted a State Department official as saying the United States believes al-Qaida operatives are working out of Iran and that all countries are required to deny safe haven to those who plan, support, or commit terrorist acts. Also on Wednesday, The New York Times, citing "senior Bush administration officials," said the United States has intercepted communications "strongly suggesting" that a small cell of al-Qaida leaders in Iran had directed the Riyadh attacks.

May also said that the possibility that Iran is developing nuclear weapons is "probably something that has been absorbed by a large proportion of the (U.S.) population." On May 15 the Voice of America reported that Powell told a Russian radio station that the United States is concerned that Iran's nuclear program, being built with Russia's help, could be used to develop weapons. And Russia has said Iran's nuclear program should be monitored.

The polling was completed just before May 12, when suicide bombers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed 34 people, including seven Americans, and injured more than 200 people. May guessed the attacks would damage Saudi Arabia's reputation further.

"Obviously, (Saudi spokesman) Adel al-Jubier and Prince Bandar (bin Sultan) are making the case that this proves that terrorism can happen anywhere, and Saudi Arabia is as much a victim as the United States, and that we're all in it together," May told UPI. "But my best guess is that is not going to be persuasive to most people."

May predicted that Americans instead will see what he called the alternative explanation: "That al-Qaida still has substantial support within the kingdom among the clergy, within the government, within the security apparatus, and that it is still very operational there.

"In terms of Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority, the perception of most Americans for some time has been that he does support terrorism. But that perception has grown. Not as dramatically as in the case of Syria, but by about 4 points since January."

The survey also asked respondents if they believe each of nine countries and the United Nations is a reliable ally in the fight against terrorism.

The largest proportion (86 percent) viewed Great Britain as a reliable ally, up five points since January. Canada ranked next at 69 percent, followed by Spain at 67 percent and Israel at 63 percent.

France's rating dropped by a dramatic 17 points since January – from 48 percent to 31 percent. Less than half of Americans (45 percent) view Germany as a reliable ally in the fight against terrorism. The United Nations had the confidence of 44 percent of Americans, Russia 30 percent, Pakistan 23 percent, and Saudi Arabia 19 percent.

The interviews of 1,026 randomly selected adults were conducted by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.