CNN poll: Growing pessimism in U.S. over Afghanistan war
Nearly six in 10 Americans continue to oppose the war in Afghanistan amid a growing pessimism about the situation the United States faces in that country, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday indicates that 44 percent of the public believes things are going well for the United States in Afghanistan, down from 55 percent in March.
According to the poll, 58 percent of Americans oppose the war in Afghanistan, with opposition highest among Democrats.
"Six in 10 Republicans support the war, but support drops to 40 percent among Independents and just 20 percent among Democrats," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
The survey indicates that, since the start of September, support for the war has dropped nine percentage points among Democrats, while remaining steady among Republicans and Independents.
Separately, according to the poll, two-thirds of Americans now favor allowing people who are openly gay or lesbian to serve in the military, with 28 percent opposed.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted September 21-23, with 1,010 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.
CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Unknown message
Hello. Will the admin of this site please contact me. I would like to buy some banner ads asap. My name is David and I work with a CPA Network. You can reach me at dave.kosiba@yahoo.com (please respond, our network can provide much better income for the traffic you are getting than adsense) I have tried reaching you via email with no response (Sorry for the spam)
"In the United States, nearly six in 10 Americans continue to oppose the war in Afghanistan, the lowest level since the start, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll last week."
Isn't the proper ratio 3 out of 5?
The Gigantic America's 4th. Shadow Branch of Government, DHS simply cannot exist in it's currently enormously bloated form without continuous large scale terrorist attacks and ongoing Oil Wars. The entire world including a great many American citizens are expecting America's Shadow Branch of Government to create a false flag event which they instruct the news media to post as just another large terrorist attack killing a great many civilians.
America's Shadow Branch of Government, DHS, NSA, CIA et. al. DO NOT WANT PEACE PERIOD. Any lengthy period of peace directly translates to cut-backs on their funding, lay-off's of their employee's and a growing wave of non-support for their continued enormous taxpayer sucking existence.
Israel's Mossad DOES NOT WANT PEACE PERIOD, Free US Military weapons transfers worth multi-Billion's of dollars would dry up, massive amounts of Free American taxpayer dollars given to Israel would dry up.
Historically and repeatedly recorded, corrupt firemen had purposely committed arson in a heartless attempt to justify continued funding, to fight against planned cut-backs and laying off needless staffing. The same exists with the DHS, CIA, NSA and the Israeli Mossad agency's on a much more nefarious scale and level. It is entirely likely they'll purposely create a false flag event directly leading to the deaths of many civilians in a heartless attempt to continue their utterly depraved agenda's and existence.
I wonder if the americans are ever going to have the guts to go after the jews from Israel that attacked them on the fraus 9/11?
Soldiers killing for sport. Soldiers killing each other. Soldiers committing suicide. I think it is past time to bring them all home.
You're quite right,bailoutsos.Thank you.
Soldiers denying terrorists a safe haven. Soldiers taking the fight to the enemy. Soldiers preventing attacks on the United States. Soldiers killing terrorists. Remember that our nation has not suffered another serious attack from terrorists for the past nine years. There are always going to be problems in war but the objective of protecting the American people is being met. The mission is being accomplished. It may never be over but I certainly do not want to "bring them all home" and let the terrorists know that our resolve to fight them lasted only nine years. Mine has not and I have been in the Military for the past 13. Don't drink the headline coo laid bailoutsos, 99% of everything going on with the military overseas is good and is keeping America safe.
In addition to keeping us safe, American service members are taking responsibility for the mess that was created when the American people sent them to Afghanistan to avenge 9/11. Guess what... we made a mess. War does that. We made a mess after WWII & Korea and we are still in those countries we made a mess in. Cleaning up, nation building or however you want to describe it takes time after war. Should we do the right thing and try and clean it up before we go or should we leave and let the taliban and terrorists come back in and take over? Will us leaving create a safer America? I don't think so. We need to create some stability in Afghanistan and Iraq. This will take decades if not centuries. Whether or not you agree with the United States going into Afghanistan or Iraq is not the issue. In case you missed it... we did. Not just the president or the Republicans. We are all Americans. Just for the record, I do not think it was right to go into Iraq and we should have taken more time to develop a plan for Afghanistan. I also don't want troops in either place. The problem is that we as a nation are in both places. In the case of both Iraq and Afghanistan...We broke it so we bought it. There will continue to be all the issues that go along with war like the ones you highlight above bailoutsos, but the fact is that we as Americans have to clean up the mess we made before we can leave. The cost will be high and the resentment high for those Americans who did not agree with going in... but we as a nation did go in and so we as a nation must fix what we broke before we leave. Going in may have been wrong, but leaving now is wrong as well. I'm pretty sure that two wrongs won't make it right.
This war isn't going away. Too many greedy millionaire/billionaire profiteers at the trough to let it go – while our younger ones die & our taxpayers & our country slide deeper in debt.
Sadly enough DDM,I must agree with your comment as rings quite true.These right-wing thugs in Washington will spell the end of this country unless we get rid of them first!!!
USA your hands are getting bloody and bloody every day. Tell me how are you gonna wash this blood because your rivers are bloody as well.
Our government simply denies that the blood is there. No washing required in their eyes.
REALITY CHECK.........all but one or two of the trade center attackers were from saudi. We started the iraq war .....let me say that again for those that are politically tone deaf.......we started our first war killing over 200,000 civilians many women and children. I wonder if this is how the atmosphere was in germany when the Naz1 party started the war and most of the coutry backed them also..................creepy.
know it's hard to swallow, but the truth shall set us all free.
The steadfastness, integrity, and willingness to stand up for freedom against tyranny will lead the Taliban to victory.
"To watch the courageous Afghan freedom fighters battle modern weapons with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom. Their courage teaches us a great lesson-that there are things in this world worth defending. To the Afghan people, I say on behalf of all Americans that we admire your heroism, your devotion to freedom, and your relentless struggle against your oppressors
." President Ronald Reagan – March 21, 1983”
Ummmmmm........what the hell are you babbeling about?
know it's hard to swallow, but the truth shall set us all free.
The steadfastness, integrity, and willingness to stand up for freedom against tyranny will lead the Taliban to victory.
"To watch the courageous Afghan freedom fighters battle modern weapons with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom. Their courage teaches us a great lesson-that there are things in this world worth defending. To the Afghan people, I say on behalf of all Americans that we admire your heroism, your devotion to freedom, and your relentless struggle against your oppressors
." President Ronald Reagan – March 21, 1983”
with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom. Their courage teaches us a great lesson-that there are things in this world worth defending. To the Afghan people, I say on behalf of all Americans that we admire your heroism, your devotion to freedom, and your relentless struggle against your oppressors
." President Ronald Reagan – March 21, 1983”
With General Petraus openly stating the Karzai clan including Hamid Karzai's brother who is widely alleged to be 'THE' major Heroin exporter in all of Afghanistan, ARE CORRUPT. How long is it going to take for the Republican lawmakers and Tea Bagger's to hear him?
Contrary to Bob Woodsworth's comment that begrudgingly stated 'no president wants a war', A South American president siting down in a face to face meeting with newly elected President George W. Bush jr. is on public record and video taped stating 'Wars are Good for the Economy'. The South American President reminded Bush jr. there were no current wars in his country to which Bush jr. SMILED. The South American President quickly excused himself privately stating the evil coming off Bush jr. could be physically 'felt' at that moment.
know it's hard to swallow, but the truth shall set us all free.
"To watch the courageous Afghan
freedom fighters
battle modern
weapons with
Let me start again cnn keep editing my post which is a quote by ronald reagan in 83 funny they don't want this quote posted.....................here goes
Aye Larry, I agree. The Western Powers that be, (ie: ISAF) are on a mission to combat the Eastern Powers that be, (ie: Pakistan/China) for control of the gas pipeline from the former Soviet States to the north & the "newly-discovered" mineral wealth of the area. But that's just in Afghanistan. The overall picture is much bigger. Can we Peons even concieve the Global Mission? The Great Game continues in our time on this rock. That corner of the world will remain a strategic spot in Global Dominance...still ruled by tribal warriors with greasy, dirty beards and AK-47's who live by the honor code of Pashtunwalli, & Blood Revenge. The fact that they are Muslim is an aside. They are Muslim by faith, but they are Pashtun by birth.
I know it's hard to swallow, but the truth shall set us all free.
The steadfastness, integrity, and willingness to stand up for freedom against tyranny will lead the Taliban to victory.
To watch the courageous Afghan ." President Ronald Reagan – March 21, 1983”
CNN refuses to post quotes from our own president........................sad and dissapointing
cmon cnn i have edited my post twenty times is there no free speech or discussion on here unless its superficial
where is my post cnn................
I see from these posts that most of you fine folks have again been duped by the media. I DO see the merits of your varied opinions, but please note some of these facts. There is no "Afghan War", nor "Iraq War". The US Military only recognises an "Afghan Campaign" & an "Iraq Campaign". (Like the "Burma Campaign" was only part of WWII) in the overall "Global War On Terror". The GWOT will truely encompass the globe, we are only witnessing the first act of the play. The Obama Crew is cleaning up the Bush sidetrack into Iraq & hammering the pressure on Afghanistan for a quick victory so we can move on to the Horn of Africa Campaign (Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, etc) to be followed by the Indonesian Campaign. We'll figure out where to go from there. The Terrorists have been deemed a threat to the Global Economy by the real folks who run our little world, and thus must be eliminated just like any other Mafia Family who is cutting into the proffit sharing. That's just how I see life in my little slice of the planet; My suggestion to you all is to relax, buy some stock in Boeing & that company formarly known as "Blackwater", and have another bong hit....cuz it's gonna be a long, long, long movie. Way past the lives of our children. That's just life in the current future of the New World Order as I see it.
Actually Honyak "the Global War on Terror" is no more no less than than overall scheme of the United States,Great Britain and France to take over Central Asia in disguise and control their resources.No wonder the Muslims hate us like they do!!!
How much did US spend vs how much profit? It wasn't even worth it.
All this right-wing mumbo-jumbo does get awfully old. I wish that all you right-wing nutjobs(including my imposter) would shut up once and for all,please!!!!!!!
Idiots.
Same idiots differant day.
same excuses differant day.
lie.
stall.
threaten.
insult.
change subject.
call names.
Die YOU Godless Filth.
Inshallah.
"Godless filth" here. Thanks for demonstrating your tolerance. Let all have a good look.
As for Larry Valecia's comment that only dope-smoking "seditious hippies" would advocate withdrawl, keep in mind that in hindsight the invasion of both countries was an enormous mistake–financially and in every other way–one that lots of "seditious hippies" were against from the start. We could have saved trillions and countless lives had we thought twice before invading at the behest of a corrupt administration.
The U.S. hasn't actually tried to win a war since WWII.
Well, we won the Gulf War and the Iraq War. Do those count?
There is nothing a General likes better than a good war. I agree with the President, we should get out of there and assign the Generals to fighting drugs or illegal immigrants.
Instead of fighting the terrorists who attacked us? Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
All I can say is that I am proud of our military. What a great job they are doing in a really bad situation. I am just glad my kids never joined the service because our government feels our children are expendable with these stupid wars. Countries that have a really strong military tend to use them! Like we do! How about some peace in my life time? What about the tens of thousands of wounded kids that lost life & limb fighting for these stupid causes? When will we learn?
We'll learn when the terrorists quick attacking us. Complain to them. Address it to:
al Qaeda c/o Osama bin Laden
Cave #3
North Waziristan, Pakistan
Wow, diminishing support for the war. Would have never figured that to happen. Especially when we are so close to victory. Oh heck, I can't even convince myself–no matter how I try...
Not one more American should be dying for these people. They are ungrateful. I got a better Idea, let's just let them kill themselves.
Problem is, they don't stop with killing themselves–they want to kill us, too. Fighting the terrorists on their own soil makes a heckuva lot more sense than fighting them on ours.
Maybe that's because the war, from the start has been B.S.. The government of Afghanistan was willing to give us Osama Bin Laden after 9/11, they just wanted some evidence. We then bombed the crap out of them and started a war for no reason (except for Imperialism and war profiteering for a select few). This war has been hell for Afghan civilians who don't want the Taliban, but have little choice with foreign occupiers spurring their recruitment. The escalation of last fall was nothing short of the overinflated military-industrial-complex on a power trip. 30,000 more troops? F. you, Pentagon and think tanks. No one in the Army Officer Corps even believes in a strategy for victory; our aggression will not lead to victory, so why the escalation? That's like doubling down on failure–at the expense of a dignified people who only want peace.
If you wont stop the genocide, at least rename the Department of Defense, you stupid hypocrites, to the Department of Unjust Wars!
Thank you,Jon.I say that these right-wing thugs in Washington need to be apprehended and taken to the war crimes tribunal in Holland and charged with crimes against humanity for the butchery of Afghan civilians.Are they any better than the Germans during WW2? Somehow I don't think so!!!
The only B.S. here is you. There was no "government" in Afghanistan, just the Taliban who were harboring the terrorists and refused to turn them over to face justice. They sowed the wind and now reap the whirlwind. Blaming the "MIC" just blows your cover, Mr. Conspiracy Theorist.
"The potential plot against Europe' - Bombing in Afghanistan will not help. The terrorists that are planning an attack could be anywhere in the world, say Canada. America should start bombing al Qaeda cells in Canada. Don't be worried if a few Canadians get killed.
I totally agree with you,bailoutsos,but the right-wing idiots in Washington are going launch more bombs on defenseless people over there,come what may!!!
As anyone can tell, I didn't write that above.
Yeah, there are SO MANY defenseless terrorists walking around with AKs and RPGs and planting IEDs. My heart bleeds for the poor terrorists! WAAAAA!!!
You gonna post the same tripe on every Afghanistan board?
Here's my pat response: Tell us what cave you're hiding in and we'll start with that one.
The fact is we won the war in Iraq and we're kicking ass in Afghamistan. You ask any Trooper or someone normal and they'll tell you we have too much invested not to complete job. We're almost there..The Special Activities Division of the CIA along with the SF / 1st SFOD- Delta is hitting them with SOFLAM,SIGNET and Drones killing the enemy by the boat load. Soon OBL will meet his fate and get beheaded like the dirty pig he is and we WILL can get back to living a normal LIFE.
Until then, Let us do our jobs..
Won the war in Iraq? Are you kidding? The country is in ruins from all bombs that were dropped, no electricity, no water, no real government. I would hate to see what you think is losing, maybe you think winning is controlling all of the oil in the country.
You mean a warzone is damaged? Say it ain't so!
Pure genius.
I hear you, Night Wings, but there are a lot of poor, hungry and homeless people here in America who need the billions of dollars the war in Afghanistan is costing the taxpayers.
Won the war in Iraq? I sure would hope so. It was like shooting fish in a barrel . They had no air force, no real ground forces to speak of, no armament against planes, nothing but some old Russian tanks, no WMD!, no nothing. They scattered and ran like lemmings at the start. What a joke! Won the war in Iraq?? Easy pickings I would say.
Jay,you just took the words right out of my mouth! You said it all.Thank you.
It's not so "easy pickings", Jay, when the militants blend in with the population and you're doing your best to avoid civilian casualties. Try it sometime, Mr. Military Genius, if you don't believe me.
Leave those filthy rathole countries, put the troops in Mexico to clean up the mess there, and then send them all on paid leave to any luxury spot they want to go for a year. Let the Afghans make a deal with the Taliban, enforced by our drone technology for as long as it takes to see the region become a calm state. If they set up terrorist training camps, send in the Tomahawks.
The problem is, at some point we have to engage the Taliban diplomatically if any lasting peace is to exist. It's their home too, so they aren't going anywhere. The only other alternative is complete extermination which I'm pretty sure is a human rights violation. In a true democracy, they have to have a voice too. Quite the ethical dilemma. Do we install a perverted form of democracy or the real deal that includes one of our current enemies?
I agree with you,Aaron.We need to get the Taliban to the negotiating table and get a peace that we can all live with.
A better strategy: kill the enemy until there is no more enemy. That's how every war in history has been won.
Sorry Larry Kegel,I didn't post the ididotic statement above.Some right-wing fool is impersonating me again.I bet that this idiot even thinks that WW1 was a very good idea too since that's how dumb he is!!!
"It's their home too, so they aren't going anywhere."
I didn't know Afghanistan was part of the USA; I always thought it was just their home not yours as well.
You assume he meant USA citizens/soldiers and the Taliban, because you think that everyone there is a part of the Taliban? WRONG! Put your foot in your mouth now.
Those against the war would probably have said the same thing about WWII and We won that!!! I don't think They know more than those running it??? The way We are going in Afghanistan is the same way We went in Iraq... It looks like it will work in Iraq!!! So Why not try it in Afghanistan???
LarryKegel(US Army) Those against the war would probably have said the same thing about WWII and We won that!!! @@@@ Guess you forgot Vietnam?
What exactly did we win from the war in Vietnam?
Tom What exactly did we win from the war in Vietnam? @@@ That was my point. He forgot we got our azz kicked in that one.
Excuse me, I misunderstood you.
Perhaps because like your comment, it contains more question marks and exclamations than its worth.
Sorry folks,I didn't make that stupid comment above.As I said before,we need to enlighten more Americans in order to turn them against this idiotic war and the stronger the opposition,the sooner we'll be out of that country where we belong!!!
Yes, the sooner we're out of there, the sooner the Taliban will go back to enslaving the population and murdering women on soccer fields, and the sooner al Qaeda will have its bases back to plan more 9/11-style attacks on us and any country that believe in freedom.
Only seditious hippies who smoked too much weed in Vietnam think that's a good idea.
Until the day when the US stops playing soldier and dedicates the fortunes spent on the military in creating technological, scientific and material growth, this country will continue to live in a slump. We know everybody likes their guns and weapons but invading other countries with the excuse of helping them has created the worse image the world has of us ever. We have not won a war since Korea (and that is not a triumph but a match) and we send our youth to be killed or to become crazy at the attrocities every war generates. In addition to that we are still in a recession that has a great risk of suffering a double dip in 3 or 4 months. If you hear problems in your neighbors house, do you force your way in, beat the troublemaker and try to impose your guidance? Of course not. So what is difefrent to what we are doing with other countries? Wars are won with economic and technological growth; we no longer live in the 1600s; we just look ridiculpus and childish to the eys of the world.. War is for the retarded and we simply refuse to accept the truth.We have chosen to become the bullies of the world. Wake up America! The enemy is within. Grow UP!
Rob,
We are not trying to impose our ways on them, I am here and see it first hand. We are teaching them ways to provide for themselves. They fear the Taliban and do as the Taliban says, so they can live! I guess you feel it is okay for people to live this way, because you never have. Have you ever seen some one killed in the street because they had a TV? I have! Then you come over here and live as they do and then we will see how you feel about the U.S. being here. Yes we have made mistakes, and we have learned by them. I guess you have never made any mistakes, must be hard to live as a perfect person. If you ask most Afghans they are very glad we are here, the women have more chances then they ever have to better themselves as well as getting an education. Do you see things wrong with an education? You have really missed the big picture, It is not about winning a war, it is about helping a country learn how run itself without the fear of a terrist organization running the country by fear. Do you remember the fear of 9/11, well then imagine living like that all the time and being told what you can and can't do. Oh yea you do not live like that , so how could you imagine it! So when you have been in their shoes and have lived as they do, then you can comment on what we are doing here. Like if a person does not register to vote then they have no right to complain about the goverment. Come on over, you are more than welcomed to join in and help this country become more educated and be independent. Ask a soldier and most, not all will tell you they want to be here and help. See you soon! Well maybe. Enjoy all your freedom. I am here so you do have it where you live, because if I and otheres were not here then you would be living like they do. You have a good day.
Extremely well stated,Rob.That was a very sensible comment and to the point!
Dear Rob,
I read your post and was very annoyed and insulted. I guess the part of your comment that I found most incorrect was your statement that "war is for the retarded." Sir, that is a very non-intellectual opinion. War is not for the retarded, it is a weapon of last resort, used when all other methods of peaceful coercion have failed. Such is exactly the case in Afghanistan. We were attacked on September 11. President Bush gave his demands to the Taliban, and they refused them. Our country used war not because, as you say, "we like our guns and stuff," but to overthrow the regime that initiated hostilities. Secondly, you state that we have not won a war since Korea. Well sir, you are mistaken. Please familiarize yourself with the Bosnian war of 1992 to 95. The United States began a bombing campaign, bringing the groups and countries (there were three sides involved) to a peace treaty that still stands today. And all through this, the United States maintained and economic surplus. I think this is a fine example of a winning war after Korea. Now, to my third and final point, you say that "If you hear problems in your neighbors house, do you force your way in, beat the troublemaker and try to impose your guidance? Of course not." This is most certainly wrong, because the neighbor (Afghanistan) not only created problems in their own house, but brought trouble to our house. To conclude, you are blatantly in the wrong. Please keep your factually lacking comments to yourself, or generate more intellectually sound opinions before you share them with the world.
Soldiers killing for sport. Soldiers killing each other. Soldiers committing suicide. I think it is time to bring them all home.