Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 OPINION 
38

Americans Fed Up With Afghan War

Share

(Newser) – The Obama administration is busy figuring out how to fine-tune its Afghan strategy while most Americans by and large just want us out of there. "A clash is coming," warns Bob Herbert. Most people are tired of the war, worried about the recession, and in no mood for yet another protracted conflict. "The difference between the public’s take on this war and that of the nation’s top civilian and military leadership is both stunning and ominous."

If the "armchair generals" are correct in how important this conflict is to the war on terrorism, then President Obama has to make a much stronger case to the public, Herbert writes in the New York Times. In fact, if our national security is truly at stake, this debate should trump health care. So make your case, Mr. President. "Otherwise, let’s explore creative alternatives to endless warfare and start bringing the weary troops home."

US Marines eat after an eight-hour patrol and firefight in which one man was wounded in southern Afghanistan on Friday.
US Marines eat after an eight-hour patrol and firefight in which one man was wounded in southern Afghanistan on Friday.   (AP Photo)
The sun sets yesterday on a US Marine outpost in southern Afghanistan.
The sun sets yesterday on a US Marine outpost in southern Afghanistan.   (AP Photo)
A US Marine machine gun post is seen yesterday in southern Afghanistan.
A US Marine machine gun post is seen yesterday in southern Afghanistan.   (AP Photo)
President Barack Obama stands with Paul and Janet Monti as he posthumously awards their son, Army Sgt. 1st. Class Jared C. Monti, the Medal of Honor for his service in Afghanistan.
President Barack Obama stands with Paul and Janet Monti as he posthumously awards their son, Army Sgt. 1st. Class Jared C. Monti, the Medal of Honor for his service in Afghanistan.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We need to (assess) the implications of forcing still more conflict on a public that is broke, dispirited, and fed up with eight years of continuous warfare that have not yielded a ... sense that the nation is reasonably secure. - Bob Herbert, New York Times

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
38 comments
VIEWING:
 
Reader64481089
Sep 26, 09 10:02 AM CDT
Americans want instant gratification like a video game, we lack commitment and also lack enough troops to commit to such a war which would be won by attrition and numbers not a quarter dropped in a slot of a game machine like Pac Man Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+6
IN RESPONSE:
Toon
Sep 26, 09 11:18 AM CDT
We've been over there longer than we were in WWII. Of course back then we had a clear goal, focus and competent leaders. I'm not sure if the past administration didn't want to win or if they just didn't know how to do it.
Vote up! Vote down!
+6
IN RESPONSE:
doingtherightthing
Sep 26, 09 12:32 PM CDT
reality check people. The majority is not fed up with the war. Americans are fed up with the way the war is being ran by Obama. Americans are smarted than this government gives them credit for. They know, as long as, we have a presence over in the middleeast the main terrorist stronghold is being occuppied. They can't concentrate on America to attack...... Once we walk from Afgan the terrorists will move right onto the shores of the USA ....bottom line: The front on terrorism is the middleeast not the USA today lets keep it that way........you can't have it both ways stop the war and keep America safe from terrorism....
Vote up! Vote down!
-7
IN RESPONSE:
Toon
Sep 26, 09 1:50 PM CDT
Reality check doingtherightthing, the opposition to a build up in Afghanistan is very similar to Bush's build up in Iraq. As a whole we want out and we want our troops home and we have felt this way years before Obama took office.
Vote up! Vote down!
+4
IN RESPONSE:
Observer
Sep 26, 09 2:52 PM CDT
We should leave Afghanistan today. It is an unwinnable tribal shithole. I know guys that have fought there and they readily admit the heathen pig natives do not want us there. The government we installed is openly corrupt. The warlords rule the countryside and the country is produces 95% of the world's heroin poppies. Get us out of this place. To hell with the Generals that pretend there is a noble or strategic cause worth fighting for here. They only are interested in protecting their pensions and milking the system as long as we let them.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2

View all 38 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

356 Stories

Obama: I'll 'Finish the Job'
in Afghanistan

President's troop decision expected this week

6 hours, 7 minutes ago
(Newser) - He didn't tip his hand on many troops it would take, but President Obama said today that he intends to "finish the job" in Afghanistan. He promised to unveil a strategy after Thanksgiving that will "dismantle and degrade” the enemy while making sure that "al Qaeda and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • Afghanistan war • President Obama • Afghanistan exit strategy

 Report: Obama Will Send 
 34K Troops to Afghanistan 

Prez finalized decision last night, will address nation next week 

13 hours, 5 minutes ago
(Newser) - President Obama has made his choice on Afghan strategy after months of deliberations and will announce it next week, administration sources tell McClatchy . The president finalized his decision to send another 34,000 troops in meetings last night, and plans to address the nation on the choice next Tuesday, prior... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • US military • Afghanistan war • President Obama • Afghanistan exit strategy • Stanley McChrystal

 US, Afghans Recruit 
 Taliban With Jobs 

Drive will be similar to the 'Sons of Iraq' program

Nov 23, 09 10:49 AM CST
(Newser) - Afghanistan has launched an initiative to convert Taliban foot soldiers with the promise of jobs and protection. Backed by the US military, the plan is modeled on its “Sons of Iraq” program; Stanley McChrystal even lured a key architect of that program out of retirement to help with it.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • Taliban • insurgents • Hamid Karzai • Sons of Iraq • counterinsurgency • Stanley McChrystal

356 Stories


Politics  •  Opinion  •  US  •  World 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
Afghanistan • US military • US troops • Afghanistan war • Afghanistan exit strategy • Stanley McChrystal

from our news partners