Most Americans unclear on objective in ISIS fight

WASHINGTON – Only a third of the American public sees a clear objective in US military action against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, a poll found this week.Nevertheless, a clear majority favors military action against the extremist group. In the Pew Research Center poll, 57 percent support the operation and just 33% disapprove.In its breakdown of the figures, Pew said that “negative evaluations” of US performance against the group, roughly a month into the operation, extends “across party lines: 64% of Republicans, 61% of independents and 52% of Democrats say the military campaign is going not too well or not at all well.”First launching strikes against Islamic State assets in Syria in late September, Obama administration officials said that the fight would last for years.Strikes in Iraq against the group began a month before.The poll also shows American wariness over mission creep: 55% are opposed to sending ground forces into the conflict zone.The largest figure in the poll was a critique of foreign allies.Asked whether coalition partners were doing enough to help in the effort against Islamic State, 73% of Americans responded they were not.