(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of people in New Zealand agree with their government’s decision to extend the stay of a non-combat military mission in Afghanistan, according to a poll by Research New Zealand. 61 per cent of respondents favour the resolution to keep 140 troops working in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan until September 2010.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of people in New Zealand agree with their government’s decision to extend the stay of a non-combat military mission in Afghanistan, according to a poll by Research New Zealand. 61 per cent of respondents favour the resolution to keep 140 troops working in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan until September 2010.
On the other hand, New Zealanders are divided on whether to re-send Special Air Service soldiers back to Afghanistan, following a request by the United States government. 47 per cent of respondents would support this measure, and 44 per cent would oppose it.
Afghanistan has been the main battleground in the war on terrorism. The conflict began in October 2001, after the Taliban regime refused to hand over Osama bin Laden without evidence of his participation in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people.
At least 1,266 soldiers—none of them from New Zealand—have died in the war on terrorism, either in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
On Jul. 27, New Zealand prime minister John Key referred to the recent request by the U.S. government to send a contingent of Special Air Service soldiers back to Afghanistan, saying, "We don’t answer to America. Whatever decision we make has to be made here in New Zealand in what is perceived to be in the best interests of New Zealand. That is who I answer to, that is the New Zealand public. They are the people entitled to that answer, nobody else."
Polling Data
New Zealand has 140 troops working on reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. They were due to return to New Zealand in September 2009. The government has decided to extend their tour of duty by one year until September 2010. Do you agree or disagree with this extension?
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Agree
|
61%
|
|
Disagree
|
25%
|
|
Unsure
|
13%
|
New Zealand has had up to 65 SAS (Special Air Service) soldiers in Afghanistan in the past. Currently we do not have any SAS soldiers in Afghanistan. The United States has asked the New Zealand government to send a contingent of SAS soldiers back to Afghanistan. It is expected to make a decision next month. Are you in favour or not in favour of us sending SAS soldiers to Afghanistan?
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In favour
|
47%
|
|
Not in favour
|
44%
|
|
Unsure
|
9%
|
Source: Research New Zealand
Methodology: Interviews with 500 New Zealand adults, conducted from Jul. 6 to Jul. 9, 2009. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.
