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10 Years After 9/11: 50% See al Qaeda as Weaker, But 61% Think Another Attack Likely

As Americans nationwide recognize the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, they do so feeling stronger than ever that the organization behind those attacks is being defeated.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American adults shows that 50% now believe al Qaeda is weaker today than it was before 9/11. That’s up slightly from a survey conducted the month after the killing of its leader Osama bin Laden.

But in September 2009 and 2010, just 25% believed the terrorist organization was weaker. This finding was at 35% in September 2008.

Now, just nine percent (9%) believe Al Qaeda is stronger than it was before the sneak attacks a decade ago, while one-in-three (32%) think the group holds just as much power as it did then. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

However, a majority (61%) of adults still believes it at least somewhat likely that an attack similar to 9/11 could occur within the next 10 years, including 29% who see it as Very Likely. Still, this finding is down from 70% last year and 67% the year beforeJust 28% say a similar attack is unlikely in the next decade, and that includes only five percent (5%) who say it is Not At All Likely.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted September 7-8, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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