Terrorism Fears at Low Ebb Seven Years after 9/11

Sept. 11, 2008— -- Seven years after 9/11, concerns about a major terrorist attack in this country have subsided to their lowest since 1997, while ratings of the U.S. campaign against terrorism have improved from their subdued level the last two years.

Apprehension about terrorism remains widespread; 64 percent of Americans in this ABC News/Washington Post poll are concerned about the possibility of another major attack. But that's down 10 points from two years ago and near the low in polls back 13 years.

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High-level worry, in particular, is notably down -- 18 percent express a "great deal" of concern about another attack, compared with 25 percent this time last year, 30 percent in summer 2005 and a high of 49 percent the night of 9/11 itself.

The absence of another attack and the passage of time from 9/11 may be playing a role; so too may better assessments of the situation in Iraq.

Fifty-two percent say the United States is making significant progress restoring civil order there, up from 40 percent last spring to the most in the past four years, save for a blip immediately after the capture of Saddam Hussein. Six in 10, nonetheless, still say the war was not worth fighting.

All told, 62 percent of Americans say the U.S. campaign against terrorism is going well, up from a low of 52 percent in early September 2006 (and 54 percent at this time last year).

That's still well down, though, from its high, 88 percent in early 2002, in the early days of the invasion of Afghanistan. And the endorsement is far from full-throated; just 14 percent say U.S. anti-terrorism efforts are going "very well."

Sixty-two percent also think the United States is safer from terrorism now than it was before 9/11, about the same as last year but up from just 50 percent in 2006. Again, though, many fewer -- 25 percent -- think the country is "much" safer.