US people against Afghan war

In Britain, most people oppose the war in Afghanistan.

And, according to USA Today:

Poll: More view Afghan war as ‘mistake’

By Tom Vanden Brook

WASHINGTON — American support for the war in Afghanistan has ebbed to a new 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 poll taken Saturday and Sunday, 42% of respondents said the United States made “a mistake” in sending military forces to Afghanistan, up from 30% in February. That’s the highest mark since the poll first asked the question in November 2001 when the U.S.-led invasion ousted the Taliban government … .

In January 2002, 6% of respondents called the war “a mistake.”

Those who said the war is going well dropped to 38% in the latest poll, the lowest percentage since that question was asked in September 2006.

Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, concerned about deteriorating security there, has asked for 30,000 additional U.S. troops. President Obama is sending 17,000 troops, but he has ordered a thorough review of the strategy before deciding to send any more. There are about 38,000 U.S. troops there now. …

Success in Afghanistan will depend on Obama’s ability to make the case for more sacrifices there, said Thomas Donnelly, a military analyst at the American Enterprise Institute.

The neo-conservative American Enterprise Institute; infamous for global warming denial, militarism, etc. Being a true chickenhawk, Mr Donnelly himself will not go as a soldier to Afghanistan, and will leave that “sacrifice” to others.

Public support for the war “is critical,” Donnelly said, “because it’s almost certainly going to be very long and very difficult.”

The poll found more optimism about the war in Iraq, where security gains have dramatically reduced U.S. casualties. In 2008, 314 U.S. troops were killed in Iraq compared with 904 in 2007.

A majority, 51%, said the war is going well there, about the same as in September. Those saying it is going badly declined to 43% from 47% in September and a peak of 71% in January 2007.

The views on Iraq have to do with the widespread perception that Obama is winding down the Iraq war; as part of the “change” from the Bush war years which he promised during the elections.

How real is that perception? It is a bit early to tell. However, peace demonstrations commemorating the anniversary of Bush’s Iraq invasion, on Saturday 21 March, will help rather than hinder real change.

This is a Steve Bell cartoon about Bush and Obama.