A USA Today story by Susan Page (7/27/10), on the impact of the WikiLeaks revelations, reports that despite some erosion, “Most Americans continue to support the war in Afghanistan.”
To back up this assertion, Page cites Gallup poll findings (7/8–11/10) that 58 percent of Americans think it was “not a mistake” for the US to have sent troops to Afghanistan in 2001. Clearly, though, it’s possible to believe that US troops should have been sent to Afghanistan in 2001 without thinking that they should still be there almost nine years later.
Much more to the point was the July 11 ABC/Washington Post poll, where just 42 percent of respondents said that the Afghan War was, in the present tense, “worth fighting”—with a majority, 55 percent, saying they did not think it was. Or the CNN poll (5/29/10) that asked respondents if they favored or opposed the war, and found 56 percent opposed, with 42 percent in support.
And Americans could not “continue” to support the war, because public opinion, as measured by polls that stick to the point, have found a majority of the American public opposing the Afghan War for most of the past two years. As Extra! reported in December 2009:
In three surveys since July, the AP/GfKpoll has reported that at least 53 percent of respondents say they oppose the Afghanistan War. In September, 51 percent told the Washington Post/ABC News poll (9/10–12/09) that the war was not “worth fighting.”
J.S. Livacich
Recall that last March, as the casualties passed the 50% mark as having more dead and wounded during the current administration than during Bush’s–that USA founder wrote that it was time to get out of Afghanistan and it was not worth another life!
This most recent observation made by FAIR — should be noted as the news of PM B. Netanyahu as much as stating that it is easy to fool the U.S.– it easy to note the recent moves to OK Israel striking Iran.
Netanyahu’s remarks were carried by Alternet and Newser, thus far. But not by any Major news organization as of yet. All the news (and views) that fits!
Kenneth A. Lerczak
How many Americans who are pro-war would be PRO-WAR, if all Americans
were taxed NOW, NOW to pay for the war and what would be the thoughts
& actions if the PRO-WAR people would have to send their daughter & sons
if the DRAFT WOULD COME BACK IN EXISTENCE ?????????
WAR TAXES NOW & THE DRAFT (even for the wealthy,
entertainers, sportfigures, Wall Street CEOs, BANK CEOs, MEDICAL DOCTORS no matter what kind of medicine they practice… ….EVERYONE,
no student exemptions, no exemptions for mothers and fathers…all
from the age of 18 to 60…would be eligible for WAR….. the older people can be enlisted to take care of wounded and sick……and baby sit for all mother & fathers in the armed services. No sick exemptions unless the sickness is proven very serious,terminal & contagious…..How many of these people would be PRO-WAR? ? ? ? ?
If some think this is too radical….why don’t they think killing people and
destroying land & properties of others (supposed terrorists) with coated depleted uranium shells, especially if this is done by others…rather themselves, is not too radical and actually okay, because our American Democracy needs to be protected. MAY GOD BLESS ALL PEOPLES AND
NATIONS.
John Browne
Thank you, Kenneth, for your summation. We are of like mind. ^..^
Tom Murphy
Too bad more people don’t know about Madison’s Warning about War http://tinyurl.com/WarWarningClick the link to see the video. Please pass it on. Mainstream media is horrible, they are continually helping to sell war to the American public. One dramatic way they do it is their refusal to report the illegality of certain situations. When a war proposed is illegal AND THE US IS BEHIND IT, they refuse to report it is illegal!
woodward bernstein
“by susan page” there’s your problem, in a nutshell…..
michael e
Lets face it…This war has been flying under the radar. Bush was blamed for each death .He was told to answer for each drop of blood shed.We saw Cindy Sheehan,planted outside his home.And the press hammered home each loss.His generalship ended with victory in Iraq ,and stalemate in Afghanistan.So we now have a honeymoon phase reaching its end with Obama.What is the endgame?Remember that lament with Bush?Well now it is all coming full circle.And Barrock must answer that question.It comes with the job.So far his inexperience has not helped,as we all new would happen.But like it or not he is up to bat.We will now see if a community activist can morph into a player on the worlds chess game.And the press must do its job.Cut through his penchant for secrecy.Step over his velvet words.Become reporters not activists.The release of these dispatches have helped us all see the war is going badly.Yet I fear Obama sees this war as his to loose,as Bush did.And so we have lost our way.Mission creep has set in.Nation building in a stone age theocracy.Classic quicksand.