Every American above a certain age can remember where they were when the tragic terrorist attacks occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. While the U.S. has attempted to beef up security measures to assure our safety, a recent poll found that most Americans still feel unsafe.
The NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters from Sept. 3 to Sept. 7. The poll found that 47 percent of Americans feel less safe now than before 9/11.
On the 13th anniversary of the attacks, a record low of 26 percent of people say they feel safer since 9/11.
The poll (PDF) was released prior to the prime-time address from President Barack Obama that discussed the country's plan to address extremists in Syria and Iraq on Wednesday night. In the address, President Obama declared that he will be authorizing direct attacks against ISIS in Syria and lifting restrictions on American strikes in Iraq.
The poll found that 61 percent of voters support military action against the Islamic State militant terrorist group that claims responsibility for the beheadings of American journalists. Some 94 percent of Americans, a percentage "higher than any other news event" in the past five years, have heard of the killings. Only 13 percent believe that military action is not in our best interest.
While 59 percent of Americans have followed news surrounding Iraq and Syria, 40 percent think a U.S. military effort should be "limited to air strikes only" and 34 percent favor combat troops on the ground.
Homeland Security officials say that there are no immediate threats regarding direct attacks from ISIS in the United States, but the group does "have the ability to attack American targets overseas with little or no warning."
According to the poll, President Obama has a record low approval rating of 32 percent regarding the handling of foreign policy.
