On March 11, a Washington Post-ABC News poll showed one of the strongest opposition sentiments toward the Afghan War since the 2001 invasion. Today, a New York Times-CBS News poll has showed the trend continuing strongly, recording a new all-time high for opposition.
Now, fully 69 percent of Americans feel that the US “should not be involved” in the ongoing occupation of Afghanistan, with only 23 percent feeling that the administration is “doing the right thing” by keeping the war going.
The poll also showed a trend against the claims that the war had been “mostly a success,” with the number dropping from 39 percent in September to just 27 percent today. The data showed strong opposition across party lines, and independents were the least likely to feel the war was a “success.”
Ambassador Ryan Crocker took the same position that the administration has been throughout the past several years, insisting that there was “significant headway” being made and warning against war fatigue.
War fatigue clearly explains some of the popular opposition to the occupation, as indeed it would be any time one is 11 years into an occupation with no clear exit strategy in sight. The recent swell of opposition however seems more fueled by what a high profile disaster the once “forgotten war” has become. In the past few weeks US troops have been caught holding an organized burning of religious books and carried out a massacre. The claims of progress may be the default answer, but selling that claim to anybody now appears to be an exercise in futility.
“Now, fully 69 percent of Americans feel that the US “should not be involved”
Better replace the word “feel’ with “wish” because the warmongers don’t give a damn what people feel. Besides, the US “should not be involved” is nonsense because the US is already deeply involved. Perhaps they meant to say that the US should not have been involved in the first place, or the US should end its involvement.
Better replace the word “feel’ with “wish” because the warmongers don’t give a damn what people feel.
I know I've said this before and I hate to sound like a broken record but it bears repeating over and over again. Both parties know that the vast majority of the American people are either going to (1) not vote (and therefore what they think doesn't matter), or (2) vote Democrat and/or Republican no matter what those parties do or don't do. That being the case, why should they care? Their actions are making them rich, empowering them, and keeping their financial benefactors happy. The criminal class in DC is a lot of things but stupid isn't one of them. They know that they can get away with anything they want and not be held responsible by the American people.
Until that changes we will continue to see perpetual war and a building up of the police state infrastructure.
And the majority of recent U.S. combat deaths in Afghanistan have been caused by Afghan soldiers armed and trained as allies.
Jason forgot the urinating on dead Afghans incident……. then the Koran burnings incident, now the dead CHILDREN incident…. Folk wisdom talks about troubles coming in threes……. But the Afghans have a very favorable record of dealin with invaders…………… and 5,OOO years of practice…. too…. But this time gonna be different, our military is claimin…. Why we are doin G-d's werk as they tellit…. So there is no chance G-d gonna let all those wonderful G-dly military types down….. Right …….. Doesn't the Bible say "Blessed are the war-makers" …???? Anyone know what book and verse….??? It's NOT the peace on terror……. It is a war on terror,,,,??? That IS right, isn't it..???……………………..
Beware of the wolf: don't be surprised if you see solders that are coming out of Kuwait and Afghanistan in Africa. Look people, they are trying their best to show their reasons to get out of Afghanistan, if the withdraw is promised by Obama during his election is a trick.., they simply understand by now that Afghan war is not a winnable war, they have created more enemy then friends in Afghanistan and in general rest of the region, from Lebanon to Syria to Afghanistan and etc.
Look people, US and EU new play is to get out of Afghanistan, but the question is what they are going to do with 50-70 thousand solders, bringing them home…? do they have a job, can they find a job, thats why they created the new Libya and now Mali so these solders can be shipped there and have something to do, for mankind sake, US and EU is a militarism regime, if their militarism regime falls then is their colonial politics will fall, so they need to get you Jason and John and these solders busy.
Look Africa is not touched by a western militarism power in years, USA-NATO considering to change that, one of the reason for starting the Libyan war is Africa, not Libya, Libya and Gaddafi was friend with Obama, Sarkozi/markel and Cameron, the Libyan $53 billon dollars of it was in hand of Goldman Sachs among others, look what these “friends" did to Libya, so beware of the wolf and when crocodile cries, don’t be surprised if you hear about more wars in that African region for years to come.
The thing about 23 to 30 % approval, or at least somewhat approving, is all it takes to maintain a fascist mind set and the accompanying totalitarian tactics and warring invasions.
It's strange how nations can have almost 70% opposed to something, yet it continues on, even though those 70% have to pay for it.
These last 10 years prove that Americans do not have the "democracy" they think they do, and I betcha it's been like that much longer.
The best thing to do now is to leave and re-evaluate the entire foreign policy business. if we have to, make some promises and lucrative opportunities for peace oriented business for those war profiteers that never give up. It looks like none will ever be prosecuted so at least get them set up for profit in at least something worthwhile for humanity.
This would be important in a democracy.