Americans changing their minds on "foreign policy".

Well, there's the economic decline, the change in leadership, and the monstrous national debt, to name a few. I think most of us tired of watching our tax dollars go to fund a military occupation with no near-future promise of ending. Not to mention the emotional toll it takes to watch our children, siblings, and friends come home in a flag draped coffin, or with pieces of themselves missing (physically and mentally).

Im really not surprised at this. Whenever there are more problems at home there is always a pull away from the support of trying to do things overseas. After the wars and with our economic situation, its really not surprising. Unfortunately I do not think we can behave this way in regards to Iran forever.

I think we've nearly come full-circle since the years before 9/11. Actually, I think we go through cycles regarding this issue depending on what's happening and what's been happening in the world. Of course, we didn't have nearly as many polls on as many issues even ten years ago as we have now so it might be hard to accurately track - even as accurate as polls are to begin with, right? I think many Americans have reached the point of "war-fatigue" after the past nine years. Right after 9/11 everyone was afraid and all fired up and gung-ho about getting Bin Laden and that feeling even got transferred by some to Saddam Hussein. I think the economy also has a lot to do with the poll results. When our economy was doing great people were less likely to protest that we need to "take care of our own first" since there weren't as many visible people of our own who needed help. As for what I think, I've always believed we should take care of Americans first and then help the rest of the world if we can. When it comes to war and especially "nation building" I've never been in favor of that policy. I realize there are times when war is necessary but I don't believe in the Bush Doctrine of preemptive war. I'm cautiously optimistic about Afghanistan right now; I'd have preferred if we could have just brought all of our troops home ASAP but I realize there are people who know a he11 of a lot more about it than I do. Annie

It is not the average American citizens fault at all, for how the world now perceives America. The world (or some of it) believes America is greedy, arrogant, ignorant and paranoid about Muslim extremists. While it is true that parts of America can be classified as the bits I put in bold (as can all countries), the majority has done nothing more than their best to help the poor, vulnerable, and weak people in the world. In return they have received no thanks whatsoever, instead, the country that spends billions to support and help the poor was rather violently attacked. According to wikipedia, Al Qaeda believes that Christan and Jews are conspiring to destroy Islam; That is simply NOT true. However, it maybe perceived by some as they are. The US government maintains total support of Israel in their on going conflict over the Holy land of all three Abrahmic religions (Judaism, Christanity and Islma). Bin Laden was angered by the deployment of US troops to the "land of two Mosques". If the US declined to support the Saudi's during the first Gulf war Al Qaeda wouldn't have existed. Angry with the Saudi's and now the Americans Bin Laden left to Sudan, Afghanistan and Pakistan to wait for revenge. 9/11 was just the beginning of what Bin Laden wanted. Therefore I can understand why the US public now want to stop money being sent to such countries because they (Mid Easts) don't care how much the US sends they'll always hate the US troops are in the Middle East, regardless what the leaders and dictators of those countries say.