Poll: Fewer back war in Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Change in views
Support for war declines as forces set to deploy


Poll: Fewer back war in Afghanistan
By Tom Vanden Brook - USA TODAY
Posted : Tuesday Mar 17, 2009 21:11:31 EDT

WASHINGTON — American support for the war in Afghanistan has ebbed to new a low, as attacks on U.S. troops and their allies have hit record levels and commanders are pleading for reinforcements, a USA Today/Gallup Poll shows.

In the weekend poll, 42 percent of respondents said the U.S. made “a mistake” in sending military forces to Afghanistan, up from 30 percent in February. That’s the highest mark since the poll first asked the question in November 2001, a month after the U.S.-led invasion ousted the Taliban government that sheltered al-Qaida terrorists responsible for the 9/11 terror attacks.

In January 2002, only 6 percent of respondents called the war “a mistake.” Those who said the war is going well dropped to 38 percent in the latest poll, the lowest percentage since that question was asked in September 2006.

President Barack Obama is sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan, but he has ordered a thorough review of the strategy before deciding to send additional forces beyond that. Commanders requested 30,000 reinforcements.

Attacks with improvised explosive devices killed 32 coalition troops in the first two months of 2009, triple the number for the same period in 2008. Last year, there were 3,276 IED attacks, a 45 percent increase over 2007, and a record for the war.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/gns_afghanistan_poll_031709/%2e