CNN Poll: Afghanistan war arguably most unpopular in U.S. history

[Douglas Carpenter]

Source: CNN

Just 17% of those questioned say they support the 12-year-long war, down from 52% in December 2008. Opposition to the conflict now stands at 82%, up from 46% five years ago.

"Those numbers show the war in Afghanistan with far less support than other conflicts," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "Opposition to the Iraq war never got higher than 69% in CNN polling while U.S. troops were in that country, and while the Vietnam War was in progress, no more than six in 10 ever told Gallup's interviewers that war was a mistake."

The U.S. timetable for Afghanistan calls for the removal of nearly all troops by roughly this time next year, and that can't come fast enough for the vast majority of Americans. Just over half would rather see U.S. troops withdrawn earlier than December 2014. Only a quarter say that America should still have boots on the ground in Afghanistan after that deadline.

"Independents have a much gloomier view of the war in Afghanistan than Republicans or Democrats," Holland said. "That may be because a Republican president started the war and a Democratic president has continued it, so there may be some residual support among people who identify with either party."

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/30/cnn-poll-afghanistan-war-most-unpopular-in-u-s-history/

[Hekate]

1. Fascinating, isn't it? If we still had the draft, the youth would be in the streets in large numbers

No draft -- no riots. Funny how that works.

As for those millions of us who vehemently protested during the Bush administration, I wonder how many entered the Obama era just exhausted and hoping he'd be able to get us the hell out of the Mid-East quickly.

But the Neo-Cons are still around on the Sunday talk-shows, beating the drums of war -- and their allies in Congress (like McCain) are doing likewise. Those assholes WANT us to stay in Afghanistan, Iraq, and they also want to start sending troops to Syria! No wonder Obama can't make more progress toward his stated goals than he has!

[Enthusiast]

2. When that war is finally over,

if it ever is truly over, it will have achieved exactly nothing except for the war profiteers.

Invading Afghanistan was as bad a mistake as invading Iraq.

No nation-state attacked the US on 911 even if we believe every word of the official 911 story. The "government" of Afghanistan was not harboring terrorists. The "government of Afghanistan" was hardly worthy of the name on 911. It was certainly no government that could do anything about extremists living in a remote mountainous area even if they knew about some nefarious terrorist plot. And the "terrorists" were mostly Saudi Arabs if we are to believe the accounts.

The entire premise was flawed to the core.

And, again, the Afghan War has achieved nothing of value unless you like heroin.

[cosmicone]

4. The Taliban government in Afghanistan was harboring

Al Q'aeda and its leaders Usama bin Laden and Ayman al Jawahiri with protection provided by Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistani military. Pakistani ISI was behind 9/11 -- Khalid Sheikh Mohammad was an ISI agent and he wired the funds to the 9/11 terrorists.

Taliban had to be crushed and destroyed -- unfortunately, the chimpenfuhrer Bush didn't understand the Pakistan connection and kept funneling money into Pakistan. Pakistan has now rebuilt the Taliban apparatus and the war will be for naught if Pakistani support capability is not severely weakened.

[Enthusiast]

5. Sorry. I cannot go along with that.

The Taliban hardly constituted what one could call a legitimate government. Pakistan yes, Afghanistan no.

[Javaman]

7. just like Iraq, we will leave but it will be far from over...

and technically speaking, we haven't completely left Iraq.

[7962]

3. Cant believe Iraq would be more popular; after all there was a reason to go to Afghanistan;

although I guess the fact that the numbers are taken now means a lot. I dont think we have any reason to stay any longer. I'd like to compare support at the START of the two wars. We did what we set out to do, which was destroy AQ training camps. Destroying the Taliban is a different story and they arent the ones who attacked us. The country will end up back in a dreadful mess after we leave just like its been for decades anyway.

[Bradical79]

6. I feel like Iraq got more support from detractors after Obama was elected.

With Iraq I feel like after Obama was elected there were people who supported the war as a cleanup effort on the Democrat side, and of course those on the Republican side who still think Iraq was all about toppling an evil dictator. Afghanistan was a war that was spinning its wheels for so long under Bush as he focused most of our attention on Iraq, and has just dragged on after our original mission was finally accomplished (in another country) under Obama, that many are confused about why we are still there and pulling out so late. Informed people are pretty unhappy with lots of things with Afghanistan and have been for a long time, while those on the right are pretty unhappy that President Obama was the one who made the call to take out Bin Laden, and would disaprove of Obama's handling of the war simply as a matter of principle. Anyway, I feel it's easier for both sides to find reason right now to dislike the Afghanistan war than most other wars I can think of. Even Veitnam gets a lot of support today from far right Conservatives who I know who think it was a bunch of lazy dirty hippy cowards that prevented success there :-P

[Enthusiast]

8. I have to wonder if "success" in Vietnam

would be as good as it is now. I seriously doubt it. It certainly was not worth the lives and treasure. Dumb ass conservatives.

[7962]

9. Yeah, we got rid of the evil dictator, and look whats there now. Same with Libya.

And probably Syria if Assad goes. And who knows with Egypt.
Who know what couldve been accomplished in Afghanistan if we'd never gone into Iraq. Or how quickly.