Approval of Obama on Afghan War Dives

1. A USA Today poll today represents Americans' personal support of the president pertaining to the War in Afghanistan plummeting precipitously, TWENTY ONE points dropped in 4 months.

2. He's currently at -18, with 35% in support and 53% opposed.

3. When a president dips below 40...

4. Additionally, 67% fear "things are going badly for the United States" in the mountains on the moon.

5. The survey also sees the people TWO TO ONE against the closure of Gitmo.

6. Nearly 60% OPPOSE moving KSM to Manhattan.

By Susan Page, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Public approval of President Obama's handling of the war in Afghanistan has plummeted, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, amid rising pessimism about the course of the conflict.

The nation is divided over what to do next: Nearly half of those surveyed endorse deploying thousands of additional U.S. troops, while four in 10 say it's time to begin withdrawing forces.

His extended deliberations may be taking a toll: 55% disapprove of the way he is handling Afghanistan and 35% approve, a reversal of his 56% approval rating four months ago.

"He's being held responsible for a deteriorating situation and relentlessly bad news," says political scientist Richard Eichenberg of Tufts University. "But Americans continue to believe doing something about al-Qaeda in Afghanistan was the right thing to do."

On a series of fronts, Obama is moving against headwinds:

• By more than 2-1, Americans say the United States shouldn't close the terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, as Obama has promised.

• A majority are against holding the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York, and nearly six in 10 say the self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind should be tried in a military rather than a civilian court.

When it comes to seven specific areas, Obama no longer commands majority support on any. On only two — energy policy and global warming — does he have a net positive rating. On the economy, health care, jobs and Afghanistan, a majority disapprove of how he's doing. There's an almost even divide on his handling of terrorism: 45% approve, 47% disapprove.

Even so, his overall approval remains at 50%, about where it has been since the first week of October.

The question is whether his personal appeal will help him rally support for less popular policies, or if the public's opposition to individual policies eventually will drag down his personal approval.

On Afghanistan, a record two-thirds say things are going badly for the United States, but six in 10 say the decision to send troops wasn't a mistake.

Click to expand...

Approval of Obama on Afghan war dives - USATODAY.com


The Prof

1. The causes of Obama's crushing decline are McChrystal clear.

2. His hand-wringing indecision---on public display---over a period of months.

3. While our heroes over there are slaughtered in record numbers.

4. The leaks, every few days a new position, usually contravening directly the most recent resolve, released mere hours before.

5. Observed as trial baloons, the president appears, therefore, to be playing base politics with this matter of most urgent imminence, the lives and deaths of our soldiers.

6. The Dean himself, David Broder, declared our president a "ditherer," endorsing embarrassingly Cheney's characterizations of the clueless exec.

7. But the biggie, the turning point, was certainly Bob Woodward's leak, September 21, of General McChrystal's secret assessment which the prez, unbeknownst by any of us (before Bob blabbed), had been SITTING ON since August 30.

8. Woodward's Monday headline thus put the LIE to the president's prevarications, spoken the day before, Sunday, September 20, on FIVE Sunday talk shows.

9. He was still awaiting his commander's "top-to-bottom review," the president dissembled, under questioning from Stephanopoulos, David Gregory, John King, Bob Schieffer and Senor Unavision.

10. And he had not yet been asked for reinforcements, another misrepresentation.

11. Since then, our doubt-filled ditherer has made a display of his PUBLIC dispute with his own Pentagon, his own Defense Secretary.

12. Polls are, by definition, about politics, the president's are putrid.

If we can just hold him at bay for 12 more months....we can castrate him politically.

I had a friend who at the same time I did in about 2003 leave the Republican party because they were claiming to be Conservatives and the Liberals were saying Bush was a Conservative when most of us could se he wasn't even close.
That former friend has gone Obama nuts and no matter what you say or what evidence you have to show that Obama is Anti-American and Pro-Socialist/Communist this guy will claim you're a hater and all you do is hate. It's irrational as hell. I thought I knew this gut and he's become a born again idiot and seems to be so wrapped up in hating Bush that Obama can do know wrong. I am so happy to see the latest polls showing that some of Obama's followers are beginning to see the light.
I am hearing more and more black Americans come to the realization that Obama has lied to everyone and they are not going to get a free ride and there is a limit to Obama Bucks. I just hope that 2010 we can get enough of the right people in office to reverse the lunacy that has been going on for 11 months.

Smart move for Obama would be to exit Iraq and Afghanistan immediately. He should've done it last January.

It is time for our troops to come home, from all countries, no exceptions, bring them all home. Now this president is complete ****, and will only act in what ever way will win political points, so I don't hold my breath, but that is what we need, we need to rebuild our own broken country.

I'll be the first here to say he needs to stay the course in Afghanistan - well, atleast chart a new one.

To leave now would not only admit defeat, but would also embolden the Taliban and Al Quaida. While I do agree the U.S. is no longer on a "combat" mission but rather on a "peace-keeping/nation-building" mission, I also believe that if U.S./coalition forces leave now it would completely destablize the region and give the Taliban a greater foothold not only in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan.

I clearly understand the argument before us all: We didn't go to Afghanistan to fight and dethrone the Taliban; we went to breakup Al Quaida and take down Osama Bin Laden. But anyone with a degree of common sense should know that the three are inseperable. The Taliban gave haven to Bin Laden, and Bin Laden funded and created Al Quida. U.S. and their allies may have significantly halted the flow of funds to Al Quaida, but that hasn't stopped acts of terrorism against some of our allies nor has it halted attempts by Al Quaida to commit terrorist acts abroad against our national security interest. Therefore, in my mind the mission isn't complete.

Al Quaida may not be as big a threat as they were six years ago, but if the Taliban are not stopped, I believe they will re-gain power in Afghanistan and once again provide a safe haven for Al Quaida. In order to stop this from happening, U.S. and coalition forces backed by NATO must defeat the Taliban and do what is necessary to ensure a stable government is in place in Afghanistan. The Afghan government with support from NATO must then do those things that are necessary to place Afghanistan on a more stable social-economic footing while also rebuilding its local and national police forces. It's the only way to bring stability to that nation. Otherwise, you've just allowed a rogue government to regain power and then you have to once again worry about where the next 9/11 will come from.

Sidenote: I find it quite disturbing that so many Republicans (and Democrats) were all for defeating Al Quaida and capturing Bin Ladin six years ago under the pretext of defending our national security interest, but are now so dismissive about going in and finishing the job even before they've heard what the President's new strategy is. I understand that wars cost money (and lives), but our military knew the risks and somehow I doubt they're laying in their bunkers worrying about the financial cost of war. They just want to finish the mission and come home. But they also want and need to know that they're there for a sound reason and that there is a game plan for victory. I pray that our President will lay the foundation for such a victory next week when he speaks to the nation on this critical issue.