(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Once again the number of Britons expressing support for the country’s military engagement in Afghanistan has decreased, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 33 per cent of respondents back the operation in Afghanistan, down five points since June.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Once again the number of Britons expressing support for the country’s military engagement in Afghanistan has decreased, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 33 per cent of respondents back the operation in Afghanistan, down five points since June.
In contrast, 57 per cent of Britons oppose the mission.
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 2,004 soldiers—including 331 Britons—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).
Earlier this week, British Prime Minister David Cameron, who has just completed his first 100 days in office, declared: "Afghanistan is what keeps me up at night—making sure that we succeed."
Polling Data
Overall, do you support or oppose the military operation involving UK soldiers in Afghanistan?
|
|
Aug. 2010
|
Jun. 2010
|
Apr. 2010
|
Feb. 2010
|
|
Support
|
33%
|
38%
|
32%
|
38%
|
|
Oppose
|
57%
|
55%
|
59%
|
52%
|
|
Not sure
|
10%
|
7%
|
9%
|
10%
|
Source: Angus Reid Public Opinion
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,009 British adults, conducted from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6, 2010. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.
