f the American public (52%) believes that an attack on the United States with a nuclear, biological or chemical weapon is a greater danger now than it was 10 years ago. This survey also asked members of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) their opinion. CFR members (61%) were even more likely than the public to say the danger has increased in the past decade. Only about one in ten in both groups felt the danger had decreased.
Similarly, a new ABC/Washington Post poll found slightly fewer than half of Americans (48%) saying that the possibility that terrorists could obtain nuclear weapons was “the single biggest threat the world faces,” (12%) or “one of the biggest” world threats (36%).
The fear of nuclear weapons was much lower following the end of the Cold War. In 1997, just 36% felt the chance of a WMD attack was greater than it was a decade prior, while close to a third (30%) thought it was less of a threat at that time. Shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11, however, close to half the country thought the threat had increased, and in August 2003 nearly two-thirds of Americans said that a WMD threat was greater than it was 10 years ago.
Americans are also willing to take dramatic steps to prevent another country from obtaining nuclear weapons. While a majority of Americans support direct negotiations (63%) with Iran and tougher sanctions (78%) against that country, a strong majority (61%) also says that it is more important to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action. Just a quarter of Americans (24%) support avoiding a military conflict, even if it means Iran may develop nuclear weapons.