Support in U.S. for Afghan War Drops Sharply, Poll Finds

[Mira]

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Monday, March 26, 2012 -- 6:30 PM EDT
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Support in U.S. for Afghan War Drops Sharply, Poll Finds

WASHINGTON — After a series of violent episodes and setbacks, support for the war in Afghanistan has dropped sharply among both Republicans and Democrats in recent months as increasing numbers of Americans say that the United States should not be involved in the fighting there, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

The poll found that more than two-thirds of those surveyed — 69 percent – think that the United States should not be at war in Afghanistan. That number is a significant increase from just four months ago, when 53 percent said that Americans should no longer be fighting in the decade-old conflict.
There were even sharper increases when respondents were asked for their impressions on the state of the war. The poll found that 68 percent thought the fighting was going “somewhat badly” or “very badly,’’ compared with 42 percent who had those impressions in November 2011. The latest poll was conducted by telephone from March 21 to 25 with 986 adults nationwide.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. It's even non-controversial on DU, to judge by the lack of replies.

Ooh, but that is a rapid increase in the percentage of people who want us out.

[DCBob]

2. I was with the President initially on this war but now its time to get out.

Seems now the longer we stay the worse it gets.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. If any of us could give a plausible reason for being at war in Afghanistan, maybe more would support

the war.

As it stands, we're being told that this has something to do with keeping the peace in nuclear-armed Pakistan, where we already have air superiority with drones. We're not winning the war in Afghanistan, nor are we winning hearts and minds. The Taliban isn't going anywhere--we're incapable of routing them, and they'll take over soon after we leave. That's still not a rationale for continuing a war that we can't win, a war whose objectives we don't even know.

I'd hate to have to be the President and explain to a grieving mother why her son died. There's just not a good answer.