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Poll: Most in US Say Afghan War Not Worth It

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 19, 2009 7:34 PM CDT
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(Newser) – On the eve of Afghanistan's elections, a major new poll finds sinking support for the US war effort there. A poll by the Washington Post and ABC finds that 51% of Americans don't think the war is worth fighting, up 6 points from last month. Only 24% think President Obama should agree to send more troops, while 45% want a reduction in US forces. The decision could be politically dicey for Obama because most liberals and Democrats now solidly oppose the war for the first time.

Of all people polled, 42% say the US is winning and 36% say it is losing. Support is beginning to break more sharply along party lines. Among Republicans, 70% say the war has been worth its costs, while an equal number of Democrats say the opposite. Only 34% of respondents think tomorrow's election will result in an effective government.

Soldiers of the U.S. Army's Apache Company evacuate wounded soldiers in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday.
Soldiers of the U.S. Army's Apache Company evacuate wounded soldiers in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday.   (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Soldiers of the U.S. Army's Apache Company evacuate a wounded soldier in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday.
Soldiers of the U.S. Army's Apache Company evacuate a wounded soldier in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday.   (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Staff Sgt. Cody Anderson, left, and Capt. Andy Harris of the U.S. Army on patrol in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday.
Staff Sgt. Cody Anderson, left, and Capt. Andy Harris of the U.S. Army on patrol in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday.   (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
JonmarkP
Aug 20, 2009 12:40 PM CDT
What the hell do they mean, not WORTH it? Worth it to whom? Weapons manufacturers, oil companies and big campaign donors are making huge PROFITS from this war! Just because you don't understand that doesn't mean Obama doesn't understand that. War is about corporate profit these days, and what could be more important than that?
bewilderbeast
Aug 20, 2009 10:48 AM CDT
You - all of you - were right behind the biggest army in the world going into one of the smallest, poorest countries in the world to "teach them a thing or two". Your country is STILL the biggest supplier of death weapons to anyone in the world who wants them (usually both sides of any conflict). Americans are ALL implicated in this war OF terror (its not a war ON terror) and until you UNEQUIVOCALLY force your leaders to stop lying to you and killing your poor citizens, you are ALL as guilty as one another. Don't blame Bush and Cheney - blame yourselves (OK, and Hollywood for raising you on lies).
riffran
Aug 20, 2009 9:48 AM CDT
unfortunately, it;s the tiger by the tail thing.....the reasons for us being in that area of the world are many and varied and started long before W. was in office, and has spanned multiple administrations......I wish we never would have gotten tangled up in that corner of the world ever, but here we are..
US

 
Afghanistan • Washington Post ABC poll • Afghanistan war • President Obama

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