Poll: Split on Troop Levels in Afghanistan

CBS News Survey Finds Low Approval for Obama on War, Division Over Troops; Iran Seen as Containable Diplomatically

(CBS)  Americans are evenly divided on what should happen with U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan, a new CBS News survey finds, with 37 percent backing an increase and 38 percent favoring a decrease. Another 17 percent want troop levels kept where they are now.

Democrats are more likely to want troop levels reduced, while Republicans want them increased. Independents are divided.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

With the war entering its ninth year, the Obama administration is enmeshed in an intense evaluation of the war in an effort to decide if it should add troops in addition to the 68,000 already stationed there, and, if so, how many.

The top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has suggested that the mission risks failure unless the United States adds an additional 40,000 troops; top administration officials, including Vice President Joe Biden, have reportedly advocated a counterterrorism strategy that doesn't rely on a troop serge.

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CBS News Poll Database

As questions have swirled over the U.S. strategy going forward, President Obama has a slide in his approval ratings on his handling of the situation in Afghanistan. In April, 58 percent approved of his handling of the conflict; by August, that number had fallen to 48 percent. In the most recent survey it has hit its lowest level yet, 42 percent.

Thirty-four percent, meanwhile, say they disapprove of the president's handling of Afghanistan, while roughly one in four don't have an opinion. Among Republicans, the president's approval rating on the issue has dropped almost thirty points since April.

Fifty-one percent of those surveyed say the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan, a slight increase from last month. Thirty-nine percent say the country is not. Republicans are far more likely to say the U.S. is doing the right thing in Afghanistan than Democrats.

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CBS Evening News Special Report: The Road Ahead



Iran:

Most Americans (57 percent) believe that the threat posed by Iran can be contained with diplomacy, the survey finds.

Nineteen percent, by contrast, believe the country requires immediate military action, an increase from 13 percent in February. Another 13 percent say Iran is not currently a threat, down six points from February.

Forty-three percent of Americans approve of how President Obama is handling Iran, while 35 percent disapprove. Another 22 percent aren't sure.

This poll was conducted from October 5th through 8th, before the announcement that President Obama was the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

The president's overall approval rating remains at 56 percent.




Read the Complete Poll

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This poll was conducted among a random sample of 829 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone October 5-8, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

[tugar04]

THANK YOU GEORGE WILL,......

For saying what all of America is saying when it comes to Dick Cheney and his "Dithering" comments. For some reason, Dick Cheney wanted the invasion of Iraq and our continued presence there more then GW Bush did. And at end of the Bush Admin, there were a number of reasons they differed on, but GW did stop listening to this man about the Iraqi war situation at the end of his term, because it was leading America down a no-win situation. And the world hated GW Bush and all of America for our presence there. The Obama Admin is taking time to measure out the best move concerning Afghanistan, and Dick Cheney of all people should keep his mouth shut and do what he should do now as a former VP, move away from Washington and let the present administration handle what we: the American people voted them into office to do: Administer our government's business without Dick Cheney or members of his family constantly giving speeches, saying they know how to do things better, because, its been proven for the past 8 yrs now,......THEY DON'T !

Dick Cheney has cost America a great deal of pain and loss, now he should at least keep quiet and not remind us of how much his hasty, and totally ridiculous war decisions has impacted all of our lives, and as a nation.

[idependantfreedom]

Ask the soldiers, although we the people who love and support them all wish them home safe, I would no more take this choice from them than I would take their life. America is choices. Although this affects us, it is not our choice; the choice belongs those who desire to serve. I?m sure that many of them want to go home I?m sure that there are a thousand other things that they would rather be doing than risking their lives everyday day in and day out for a war, but the thing is although it?s their choice their choice in general is for us. I trust my family soldiers to make the choice they believe is right. One way or the other.

[robinspp]

War can never solve any problems. It will increase the problem. It creates hatred.

[AOCGUY]

Good news is we don't develop national policy and strategy by taking a vote. Whatever our Commander in Chief decides we can express our displeasure or agreement in 2012. In the meantime you can write in letters offering your opinion but I doubt the President will take that into consideration.

[babooph]

FDR WON defeating two modern ,massive military allies,IN less than half the time ....

[calman1959]

To those that think the Taliban will leave us alone if we let them have Afghanistan, think again.

Check on this interview;

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33107901/vp/33244662#33244662

They have their eyes on NY too. All they want to do is kill "infidels" where ever hey can find them. Feel safe now??

[ramos1129]

This is the way the Vietnam war and the Iraq war got out of hand. Westmoreland started out with around 50,000 troops. Each year, he asked for additional troops and said he could see the light at the end of the tunnel. At regular intervals, he would say the same thing until we got to around 500,000 US troops in Vietnam. The situation was the same for Iraq. We started out with around 45,000 troops and each year saw this force been esculated. We are up to 160,000 troops in Iraq. Now, with Afgan war, we esculated to 68,000 troops and the Generals want an additional 40,000 troops to bring our troops to 108,000 troops and more will be requested in 2010. All this to oppose an estimated 100 AQ in Iraq?

[Virgil-1]

Here's a headline for ya,Nobel peace prize offered in Afghnistan.

[vernique]

maybe it is time for the following compromise:
1. let those in favor of the war pay more taxes to support the war.
2. let those in favor of the war provide their sons and daughters to fight the war.
3. problem solved.

[widollar]

Congress is conflicted on most all issues. Vested interest and the fact they are ALL in the pocket of Corporations for raising the obscene amounts of money it takes to stay in office. Our political system in America is rotten to the core and it will never change, period!

[ramos1129]

"At the same time, the American people are supporting this and the Europeans aren't supporting this," Murtha said, "The Europeans aren't doing a damn thing."
------------------------------------------

Congressman Murtha has brought out an issue that needs discussion in Congress. According to the NATO Secretary General and statements by EU leaders AQ is a threat to everyone, yet we are contributing over 48% of the troops and resources in Afgans. Why? Congress needs to start making inquires about to this.

[ramos1129]

I very much would like for someone (Republican?) that advocates sending more USA troops to answer the below:

One: The NATO Secretary General recently visited President Obama and stated emphatically that the Afgan war was an international affair. Yet, the USA, our of 42 participating countries, is contributing 48% of the troops and other resources. With additional USA troops, this percentage will increase. So why do not the other countries contribute the required additional troops?

Two: Valid news reports state that AQ is now in Pakitan, Yeman, etc. A recent report stated that only a small force of about 100 AQ troops are still in Afgan. So why not fight them there?

Three. Newsweek magazine published, in the current issue, interviews with Taliban soldiers. One of them emphatically stated that the Taliban now hated AQ because they had never warned before 9/11 of AQ's plans and the Taliban knew full well how the USA would react. So, how do we really know that if the Taliban took over the country that they again would give safe haven to AQ?

Three

[Massachusetts_4U]

The same day President Obama received the nobel peace prize he launched a full scale nuclear missile attack on the Lunar surface. He also receives praise from his supporters because he speaks as if he cares for the environment and planet imagine the irony without any debate or allowing others to know in advance because of fear the environmentalist and other M.I.T. scientists as well as others world wide would citizen the action as unneeded, not necessary, environmental wrong it pollutes and disrupts with harmful effects a place undisturbed since the beginning of time itself, it is morally ( for those that have morals) and ethically wrong as well as inconsistent with everything we believe in. Imagine Gene Roddenberry's famous Start Trek saying == That we are on a peacefully 5 year mission to explore strange new planets and universes and boldly go where no man has gone before. ==== Peacefully and boldly === do not mean firing missiles at the planets is peaceful, it interferes withe Gene Roddenberry's so called "Prime Objective Orders from Star Fleet" that under no circumstances can we do anything to interfere with a planet or culture --- we must only watch them.
President Obama also wants to increase by 45,0000 and more weapons the conflict in Afghanistan. --- He continually states he is the only President to ever so called "Inherit Two Wars"=== in actuality this is a false and misleading statement ==== World War 2 --- was fought by the U.S.A. in every European Country and in every SouthEast Asia Country --- However it is all rounded up into one WAR - world war 2 === instead of saying each country is it's own war --- if they did that then we fought 300 wars at once ---- the President that fought 300 wars at once he would have to say is FDR and Truman, Lincoln Fought the civil and Indian wars thus he fought 299 wars. President Obama who said he would end the war he is currently fighting and gets a peace prize -- has done absolutely nothing in the eyes of his country to make good on that statement --- he has been in office for a long time now he should try t recognize that at some point before he leaves. It takes two minutes to end that war and anyone familiar with it and Presidents of America's past know it does and Presidents of the past have done it in two minutes -- without running around waving flag over his head to obtain attention for something he has never done yet ---Mr. Obama should get off the couch and do it, it should have been done by Know . Then the people that praise him they feel he is god no matter he does or says ---he has not come through on a single campaign promise yet ---- his economic stimulus package is anything , but it is more of a fleecing of the American taxpayers, it's totally mis spent and a shell game of unaccountability. The bailing out of the stock market violates free enterprise and the everyone of the ideals that made America great --- why should citizens who din't own stock , or in business for themselves without stockholders be placed in a position where the government sticks it's hands in their front pockets takes their money and does what it wants with it -- they constitution doesn't allow it but it's happening with Obama -- he has no traditional American Values --- he doesn't even have an AMerican Birth Certificate type in on the web search bar and read what people are saying --type " Obama no birth certificate or Birth Certificate Obama Forgery"

[babooph]

IKE ended the war, slapped down the generals demanding more budget funds & built the interstate hwy system-he left office WARNING the USA MAIN enemy was its own military industrial complex-no one since has had his power & ability.

[dallisman]

It is certain that the US is short on cash but we must assist, at all costs ,the Pakistani government in its major offensive in South Waziristan. South Wariristan is were most of the Jihadi extremist activities emanate and may very well be harboring Osama Bin Laden.
Of significance, is the fact that Pakistan has multiple Nuclear weapons that can fall into the wrong hands. The recent militant activity in Islamabad and Peshawar illustrates the need for counterterrorist measures before a counterinsurgency campaign.

In the long run, Afghanistan and Pakistan will be more secure if the US engages in Pakistan with air support and special forces.

Winter is coming on soon and I can't see making our troops vulnerable to possible volleys from Iran. The Iranians have become increasingly iterating and may turn opportunistic.

[kevjustice]

This war is a total waste of resources. Let the Taliban have Afghanistan. Use air strikes if needed.

[melchg07]

We really should send more troops.

Pakistan finally is pushing against extremists in their country, that has only begun in the last year.

For the first nearly 8 years of this war the US had a whopping 27,000 soldiers in Afghanistan.....compared to the 150,000 that were in Iraq....that is about 1/5.

I think the Generals and Obama are right to rethink the strategy though as well.....instead of bomb, bomb, bomb.........they need to win over the moderates of the country.

We have started building schools and doing other things that help promote a better life.

I am a little concered about Obama saying they want to negotiate with the Taliban.....but the full details of that notion has yet to seen.

It could be more of the generals learning from Iraq, where they took part of the people they were fighting....essentially bribed them with military jobs and intergrated them back into the system which is a pretty decent idea. Although the notion sounds rediculous...it seems to have been working pretty well in Iraq.....although there is still a chance that could come unraveled it seems that some people were fighting against our troops simply because it put food on the table.

Some people are saying bring the troops home when the war is really just getting started.

If Afghanistan is the "graveyard of empires"......I say let italso be the "graveyard of islamic extremism"

[jwesel1]

People who want the war should pay for it. Don't put the burden on people who want peace.

[danberg777]

It's time we pay for these wars instead of charging them to our national debt! Our total debt comes out to approximatly $33,000.00 for every American citizen. This is what the two party system has done to bankrupt America.
If you told every American they would be taxed $1000.00 a year for the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, how many of these endless wars would happen?
Dan Bergstrom
Seattle, Wa...

[robham777]

by danberg777
If you told every American they would be taxed $1000.00 a year for the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, how many of these endless wars would happen?

Considering that only about half of "taxpaying" Americans actually contribute anything to the federal coffers those numbers should be revised to $2000.00 a year. I think your premise is correct in assuming that those funding these wars would probably react far differently if they were writing a check specifically for that purpose.

[melchg07]

I understand the concern about the money.

However if people had said the same things during WWII....I wonder what our generation would have rather had.

1. The pride in saying that we crushed the Nazi mentality and helped shape the world for the better.

2. The money that was spent.

Personally I'm glad that that generation took out that mortgage for me. All that glitters is not gold.

[stuart-johns2]

I say get the gear and get out.