Americans Now Fear ISIS Sleeper Cells Are Living In The U.S., Overwhelmingly Support Military Action

(updated below [Tues.])

Gallup, 2000: "A new Gallup poll conducted November 13-15, 2000 finds thatnearly seven out of 10 Americans (69%) believe that sending troops to Vietnam was a mistake."

Gallup, 2013: "Ten years have passed since the United States and its allies invaded Iraq, and it appears the majority of Americans consider this a regrettable anniversary. Fifty-three percent of Americans believe their country 'made a mistake sending troops to fight in Iraq' and 42% say it was not a mistake."

Gallup, 2014: "For the first time since the U.S. initially became involved in Afghanistan in 2001, Americans are as likely to say U.S. military involvement there was a mistake as to say it was not."

New York Times, today: "The Obama administration is preparing to carry out a campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria that may take three years to complete, requiring a sustained effort that could last until after President Obama has left office, according to senior administration officials."

CNN, today: "Americans are increasingly concerned that ISIS represents a direct terror threat, fearful that ISIS agents are living in the United States, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll. Most now support military action against the terrorist group."

A few points:

(1) I've long considered this September, 2003 Washington Post poll to be one the most extraordinary facts about the post-9/11 era. It found that -- almost two years after 9/11, and six months after the invasion of Iraq -- "nearly seven in 10 Americans believe it is likely that ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the Sept. 11 attacks. ... A majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents believe it's likely Saddam was involved."

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Is it even possible to imagine more potent evidence of systemic media failure than that (or systemic success, depending on what you think the media's goal is)? But in terms of crazed irrationality, how far away from that false belief is the current fear on the part of Americans that there are ISIS sleeper cells "living in the United States"?

(2) If the goal of terrorist groups is to sow irrational terror, has anything since the 9/11 attack been more successful than those two journalist beheading videos? It's almost certainly the case that as recently as six months ago, only a minute percentage of the American public (and probably the U.S. media) had even heard of ISIS. Now, two brutal beheadings later, they are convinced that they are lurking in their neighborhoods, that they are a Grave and Unprecedented Threat (worse than al Qaeda!), and that military action against them is needed.

It's as though ISIS and the U.S. media and political class worked in perfect unison to achieve the same goal here when it comes to American public opinion: fully terrorize them.

(3) Although Americans favor military action against ISIS, today's above-cited CNN poll finds that -- at least of now -- most do not want ground troops in Iraq or Syria ("61%-38%, oppose placing U.S. soldiers on the ground in Iraq and Syria to combat the terrorist group"). But almost every credible expert has said that airstrikes, without troops, is woefully inadequate to achieve any of the stated goals. Other than further inflaming anti-American sentiment in the region and strengthening ISIS, what possible purpose can such airstrikes have? The answer given by much of the U.S. media, as FAIR documented, seems clear: to "flex muscles" and show "toughness":

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