... is not restrictive crypto regulations. It's Radio Free Disney. Clinton's Job Approval Rating Up Broad Support for Strikes By Gary Langer ABCNEWS Polling Analyst Aug. 21 — Americans overwhelmingly support the U.S. strikes against suspected terrorist sites in Afghanistan and Sudan, and by a 2-1 margin they reject the suggestion that President Clinton ordered the attack to divert attention from the Monica Lewinsky scandal, an ABCNEWS poll has found. Job Approval Up Eighty percent support the missile attack, and 64 percent believe Clinton ordered it “mainly to fight terrorism,” not because he wanted to turn attention away from the Lewinsky case. Thirty percent subscribe to the “Wag the Dog” theory; that’s been about the size of Clinton’s hard-core detractors since the Lewinsky scandal broke. Thursday night’s survey found a five-point increase in Clinton’s job approval rating, to 65 percent—his best in ABC polling since early April. And 68 percent say they trust him to handle the U.S. response to terrorism—even though, in an ABCNEWS poll Wednesday night, a record low of 24 percent rated him as “honest and trustworthy.” Support for the strikes Yes No Support the missile strike 80% 14% Trust Clinton to handle terrorism 68% 28% Approve of Clinton's job performance 65% 32% Will Strikes Reduce Terrorism? The public divides evenly on whether the missile strikes will reduce terrorism directed against the United States, or increase it. Among those who expect the strikes to reduce terrorism, 98 percent are in support. But even among those who expect it to increase terrorism, 68 percent support the U.S. missile strikes nonetheless. Support also is non-partisan, drawing eight in 10 Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. Finally, 55 percent said they do think the Lewinsky matter is interfering with Clinton’s ability to serve effectively as president. But considerably fewer—about half that number—think it’s interfering “a great deal.” This survey was conducted by telephone Thursday night among a random national sample of 510 adults. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 points. Field work by Chilton Research Services of Horsham, Pa.