Poll: Public resists sending more troops to Afghanistan, also hesitant on Pakistan

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With a majority of the public focused most closely on economic matters at home it’s easy to lose sight of the growing problem facing President Obama and our military in Afghanistan.

This morning the latest round of troubling news appeared as fourteen Americans were killed in two separate helicopter crashes. The President is being pressured from all sides to declare a firm course of action just as the American public remains leery of battle in Afghanistan.

Three recent polls help track the current state of mind being expressed by the public on Afghanistan. CNN/Opinion Research Corporation indicates broad resistance to the idea of sending more American troops into combat. 59% are opposed against just 39% who are in favor of increasing troop levels in Afghanistan. Eight-percent of the public wants to see current levels maintained but a significant block (21%) would like to see a reduction in our fighting forces with an additional 28% in favor of a complete withdraw. 61% of American adults see the war in Afghanistan relating to the greater war on terror following the events of September 11, 2001.

Less than one in three Americans have confidence in the ability of an Afghani government to sustain a democratic government, keeps it citizens safe and root out terror suspects and cells. Perhaps the most eye opening piece of polling from the CNN survey is the 52% of the public who believe Afghanistan has turned into a similar situation faced by America during the Vietnam War.

An ABC/Washington Post survey contradicts those CNN findings somewhat in regards to Vietnam. In their poll just 35% feel the current situation has escalated to being the same as Vietnam against 58% who are still confident America will be able to avoid that. Still the ABC poll illustrates a similar theme to CNN’s findings of an American public who is both uncomfortable and unconfident regarding the situation. 49% against 47% of Americans overall believe the war has not been worth fighting.

Confidence in President Obama’s ability to handle to situation is shrinking with just 45% approving of the job he is doing against 47% who disapprove in that area. Those numbers are down ten-points from a 55-37% margin six-weeks ago. Furthermore over twice as many (63%) believe the Obama administration lacks a coherant plan for handling the situation in Afghanistan as those who do believe (31%) the White House has a clear focus.

Rasmussen Reports takes the issue a step further linking Pakistan to the discussion. As terror attacks continue relentlessly in that country 42% of the public believes victory to be impossible in Afghanistan if Pakistan remains unstable. A quite large percentage of Americans (35%) claim to be undecided on the topic with just 22% thinking it possible for our country to win in Afghanistan if the situation in Pakistan does not improve. 45% of the public believes it possible to still win the war in Afghanistan but a majority of poll responders believe that it either is not possible or remain unsure.

The leeriness of the American public regarding direct military action surfaces to some degree in two separate responses. The first shows that 79% of U.S. voters are concerned about the Taliban taking over Afghanistan with 45% of that block “very” concerned. Still, support for sending troops to combat radical Taliban forces is just 37%, with 34% who are not in favor and 30% who remain uncertain.