Poll: U.S. split over Afghan troop buildup

[laststeamtrain]

Source: CNN

Poll: U.S. split over Afghan troop buildup
By Paul Steinhauser, CNN Deputy Political Director
November 24, 2009 8:26 a.m. EST

Washington (CNN) -- If President Obama decides to send 34,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, a new national poll indicates Americans would be split over whether to support such a move.

Half the people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey, released Tuesday, said they would support such a decision, with 49 percent opposed.

But support for a troop buildup of that size is greater than the 45 percent of the public who support the war in Afghanistan. The survey indicates that 52 percent oppose the war.

"The war is unpopular, and previous polls have shown that Americans oppose sending more troops in the abstract," said Keating Holland, CNN's polling director.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/24/afghan.poll/

[Steerpike]

1. In the Abstract?

I guess people just can't visualize the carnage of war. To bad for the people in country who are about to be blown to peices, set on fire, shot or otherwise killed or crippled.

[Bragi]

2. Americans sharply divided! A shocker for sure! /nt

[pjt7]

3. I don't believe that poll

for one second.

[Bragi]

4. I believe it, here's why:

The BS that a surge in troop levels stabilized Iraq has been well sold by the military and Bushites everywhere.

Since many Americans now incorrectly think the surge worked in Iraq, they also think it will work in Afghanistan.

See here for some expert opinions on the minor role the surge played in stabilizing Iraq:
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=how_important_was_the_surge

There are many similar articles to be found elsewhere.

My basic point is that I think the higher level of support for the surge than for the war is likely due to the success of the misinformation campaign around the surge in Iraq.

- B

[Iowa]

5. I don't believe it either.