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Americans Fed Up With Afghan War

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 26, 2009 9:59 AM CDT

(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."

[Images (4)]

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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. (AP Photo)

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. (AP Photo)

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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

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 27 comments

thejoint00

Sep 28, 2009 12:13 PM CDT

"For three years, our commanders have been clear about the resources they need for training. Those resources have been denied because of the war in Iraq . Now, that will change." Barack Obama http://www.openleft.com/showDi...

thejoint00

Sep 28, 2009 12:11 PM CDT

toon that is because Bush is so powerfull and Obama is weak. he could never "fix the mess that Bush left for him." but truth be Obama has the chance right now to advance the Afghan war. will he do it? or is he going to pussy out? I mean Afghanistan is the justified war, BO even admitted to that. I just don't understand why he seems to be so wishy-washy on whether or not to commit more resouces to complete the mission that he truely believes in.

oldgoat

Sep 28, 2009 8:29 AM CDT

Doingtherightthing you ought to think that maybe if Bush would have kept with his original goal of going into Afghanistan, finding OBL and getting rid of the Taliban that there probably wouldn't be a lack of support. However he decided on Iraq and one failed plan after another and being exposed to telling lies about the reasons and what we did there and in the meantime left Afghanistan on the back burner. By the way just when did Bush take OBL like he said he was going to do? After all the right was so upset with Clinton for not getting him before 911, but now they don't utter a peep.

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