A solid majority of Americans support military intervention in Venezuela — including an eye-popping 66% of Hispanics — when informed that it’s a hub of narcoterrorism with ties to Iran and Hezbollah, a new poll claimed.
The Morning Consult survey conducted for the pro-US energy Council for Secure America asked 2,202 Americans on Jan. 10-11: “As you may know, Venezuela is a known hub for Iranian and Hezbollah terror, including military drone production and narcoterrorism. Does this make you more or less likely to support American intervention in Venezuela?”
Sixty percent of respondents said they were more likely to support intervention, while 40% said they were less likely, found the survey, obtained by The Post on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, 66% of both Hispanics and males backed intervention, as did 64% of white respondents and 54% of females, according to the poll.
Conversely, 57% of black Americans opposed intervention, while just 43% were in support of an invasion of Venezuela, the survey found.
The US forces earlier this month captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York to stand trial after the Justice Department charged him with drug trafficking. He maintains his innocence.
A majority of respondents from all income levels and all regions of the country — cities, suburbs and rural — said they backed military intervention of the socialist South American country, the poll found.
Respondents were also asked if they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: “Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, but its energy industry largely fails to produce oil.
“Knowing this, how much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? With help from the American energy industry, Venezuela can become a world leader in energy production – providing prosperity to Venezuelans and helping reduce the global influence of Middle Eastern oil.”
About 45% of respondents said they agreed US energy producers could boost oil production, while 37% had no opinion and 17% disagreed, the poll found.
“Council for a Secure America’s polling demonstrates strong American support for US engagement in Venezuela given the extent of Iran’s entrenchment in the country’s energy sector and Hezbollah’s involvement in the criminal drug economy,” said CSA executive director Jennifer Sutton.
“Both Iran and Venezuela have used their vast energy resources to finance and fuel terrorism. Support is especially strong among men and Hispanic Americans, with the data showing broad agreement that US energy expertise can help Venezuela become a major energy producer again while strengthening American security.”
CSA also released a fact sheet showing deep formal relations between Iran and Venezuela and evidence of Iran-Hezbollah terror networks operating in the country.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
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