Americans Lose Confidence in Afghanistan War

By Doug Bandow

Although the president enjoyed an upsurge in support for his Afghanistan policy after his speech, Americans again are growing more pessimistic about his plan to escalate the war.  According to Rasmussen Reports:

Following President Obama’s speech outlining his new strategy, there was a bounce in optimism about the war in Afghanistan. But the bounce has ended and confidence has fallen again. Confidence has also fallen in the broader War on Terror.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 21% of U.S. voters now think the situation in Afghanistan will get better over the next six months. That’s down 13 points from the survey immediately following the president’s speech.

Prior to that, voter confidence that things will get better in Afghanistan ranged from a low of 13% in October to a high of 29% in late June.

Forty-five percent (45%) now believe the situation in Afghanistan will worsen in the next six months, up six points from early December. Still, that’s a modest improvement when compared to attitudes captured from August until the President’s speech.

Following the president’s speech announcing his two-pronged strategy for the war, 53% supported his plan to send another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, and nearly as many (47%) liked his plan to begin withdrawing troops in 18 months. Put the two together, however, and 37% supported the overall plan, while 38% opposed it. 

Who can blame the American people for doubting the war?  Unfortunately, a tough, realistic appraisal of the chances of creating an honest, representative, and effective government in Kabul is unlikely to yield anything but pessimism.  Instead of escalating the war, the president should be developing a program for withdrawal.

Doug Bandow, American Conservative Defense Alliance

View the original article at Campaign for Liberty