Voters Oppose Drone Attacks Targeting Americans [AUDIO]

A new Fairleigh Dickinson University/Public Mind poll finds voters disagree with the White House about targeting Americans abroad with drone attacks by a two to one margin - (48%-24%).

American-born operative Anwar al-Awlaki was killed by a drone in Yemen in 2011. It was launched from a secret CIA airbase in Saudi Arabia.

The Obama Administration and the US Attorney General believe the drone attacks on Americans overseas are legal.

But Pollster Peter Woolley says, "When we asked people do they think its legal for the United States to target its own citizens abroad, most people say no, that can't be true."

"The public clearly makes an assumption very different from that of the Obama administration or Mr. Brennan. The public thinks targeting American citizens abroad is out of bounds," said Woolley, professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson University and analyst for PublicMind.

Those in the poll oppose the targeting by a two-to one margin. Woolley says men and women in the poll were equally opposed. However, by a six-to-one margin, voters in the poll say they approve of the US military using the drones to carry out overseas attacks on people and targets deemed a threat to the country.

One clear finding is that U.S. voters are paying attention to drones. About two-thirds (65%) say they've heard some or a lot about the pilot-less machines. Fewer than one-in-six (15%) say they've heard nothing.