As I’ve previously noted in this space, the situation in Afghanistan is not nearly as dire as the press reports would have it. This is hardly an unwinnable war. In fact, with only a relatively modest addition of resources we can make substantial gains.
But that message isn’t getting through to the American people. The new USA Today/Gallup poll finds support for the war effort hitting a new low:
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. … 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.
Those findings are cause for concern, though hardly for panic. After all, a far higher percentage of the public had soured on the Iraq War before the turnaround started in 2007. And this time the legislative and executive branches are in the hands of the same party so that, assuming President Obama remains resolute, he should be able to carry Congress with him.
Nevertheless, this poll suggests how much more Obama needs to do to rally the public behind his increasing commitment in Afghanistan —
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