Voters strongly approve of President Obama’s decision to use unmanned drones to go after terrorists, but they’re much less excited about the use of such aircraft for surveillance on the home front.

The president recently acknowledged that the United States has a secret drone program for killing al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists, and the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just nine percent (9%) of Likely U.S. Voters oppose such a program. Seventy-six percent (76%) approve of the use of the unmanned aircraft to kill terrorists. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The program has already caused increased diplomatic tensions with Pakistan over the unintended deaths of civilians from the drone strikes. Still, a plurality (49%) of voters thinks using the drones to kill terrorists is more important than avoiding diplomatic problems with countries like Pakistan. Thirty-three percent (33%) say it’s more important to avoid diplomatic problems. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided.

Fifty percent (50%) say the president as commander in chief has the authority to use drones against terrorists in other countries without getting Congress’ okay. Thirty-seven percent (37%) feel the president should get congressional approval before such drones are deployed. Thirteen […]