New Poll: Americans Want To Increase Tsunami Aid To Indonesia

By a substantial margin (57%-39%), Americans want to increase aid to Indonesia. This is one of the dramatic findings in the first nationwide poll since the tsunami, conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs for Terror Free Tomorrow on January 10-12, 2005.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) January 28, 2005 -- By a substantial margin (57%-39%), Americans want to increase aid to Indonesia. This is just one of the dramatic findings in the first nationwide poll since the tsunami, conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs for Terror Free Tomorrow on January 10-12, 2005. The poll demonstrates the strong commitment Americans have to helping the worlds largest Muslim nation in its time of need." said Kenneth Ballen, President of Terror Free Tomorrow. By comparison, only 13% of Americans want foreign aid increased more generally.

By a nearly 10 to 1 margin (88%-9%), Americans also want to provide at least as much aid to Indonesia as Japan and Germany, two large donors and the second and third largest developed economies.

This is a unique opportunity to rebuild not only Indonesia, but also the reputation of the United States among Indonesians," Ballen added, noting that global terrorist groups have used record-high levels of anti-American sentiment to make significant inroads throughout Indonesia, the largest Muslim majority country in the world and the one hardest hit by the tsunami. Many Americans are reacting to the plight of Indonesia and recognize its need for assistance. For instance, about four in ten of those who initially say the U.S. should reduce its overall foreign aid nevertheless support sending more economic aid to tsunami-struck Indonesia," said Dr. Janice Bell of Ipsos-Public Affairs.

Increased American assistance to Indonesia is long overdue," according to Ambassador Alphonse F. La Porta, President of the United States-Indonesia Society, and well worth the investment for the United States future relations with Indonesia." The Terror Free Tomorrow poll surveyed 1,000 American adults and has a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points.

Complete poll results and graphics are available at www.terrorfreetomorrow.org

About Terror Free Tomorrow
Terror Free Tomorrow is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote a new strategic framework to defeat global terrorists by undermining the support base that empowers them. Senator John McCain, former Congressman Lee Hamilton, former Senator Warren Rudman, Congressman Dan Burton and Ambassador Thomas Foley have endorsed the organization.

About Ipsos-Public Affairs
Ipsos-Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, public affairs company. It conducts state, national and international public opinion polling on behalf of The Associated Press, the worlds oldest and largest news organization. Ipsos-Public Affairs is a member of the Ipsos Group, the third largest survey-based research firm in the world.

Contact
Ken Ballen: 301-229-3900 x201 or kballen@terrorfreetomorrow.org

###