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July 8, 2011

Majority of American Voters Support Reagan’s Principles on Use of Military Force

By Rasmussen Reports

Majority of American Voters Support Reagan’s Principles on Use of Military Force

Voters today still embrace the more restrained use of force that Reagan advocated

From Rasmussen Reports:  Seventy-five percent (75%) of voters nationwide agree that “The United States should not commit its forces to military action overseas unless the cause is vital to our national interest. ” A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that only 12% of voters disagree while 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

That was the first point in “a set of principles to guide America in the application of military force” that [President Ronald] Reagan recommended to future presidents in his autobiography.

By an even larger 79% to 9% margin, voters believe that when the president sends troops into military action there should always be a clear intent to win with clearly defined and realistic objectives. That was Reagan’s second guiding point, designed to avoid a “halfway or tentative commitment. . . .”

Reagan also thought the president should have a “reasonable assurance that the cause we are fighting for and the actions we take will have the support of the American people and Congress.” Voters support this concept by a smaller 56% to 29% margin.  (photo: Business Insider)

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