Poll: Most want limited U.S. role in Libya

PRINCETON, N.J., March 29 (UPI) -- U.S. residents are resistant to a major U.S. role in Libya but divided on whether the mission should expand to remove Moammar Gadhafi from power, Gallup said.

Polled before President Barack Obama's speech on Libya Monday evening, 10 percent of survey respondents said the United States should take the lead role in the coalition's military campaign in Libya and 29 percent said the role should be major, results of the Gallup-USA Today poll released Tuesday indicate.

Thirty-six percent of those asked said they favor a minor role for the United States and 22 percent said they thought the U.S. should withdraw completely.

Respondents were split at 44 percent in their assessment of Obama's handling of the situation in Libya, similar to his overall job approval rating in recent Gallup Daily tracking, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

Those surveyed were closely divided about expanding the mission in Libya to include ousting Gadhafi. Forty-five percent said the goal should be limited to maintaining a no-fly zone and weakening the Libyan government's military while 44 percent said the mission should be expanded.

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted with 1,027 adults Friday through Sunday. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.