March 12, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States are concerned about the progress of the war on terrorism, according to a poll by Hart/Newhouse released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 69 per cent of respondents think the war in Afghanistan against al-Qaeda and the Taliban is not going well.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States are concerned about the progress of the war on terrorism, according to a poll by Hart/Newhouse released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 69 per cent of respondents think the war in Afghanistan against al-Qaeda and the Taliban is not going well.

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, prime suspect 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 533 soldiers—including 367 Americans—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 Mar. 10, Afghan president Hamid Karzai signed a bill that grants "legal and judicial immunity" to "all parties involved in the pre-2002 conflicts" in the country. Opposition lawmaker Shukria Barakzai expressed dismay, saying, "We are deeply concerned over the contents of this undemocratic document."

Polling Data

From what you have heard or read, do you think the war in Afghanistan against al-Qaeda and the Taliban is going extremely well, fairly well, not that well, or not well at all?

Extremely well	2%
Fairly well	26%
Not that well	28%
Not well at all	41%
Unsure	3%

Source: Hart/Newhouse / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,007 American adults, conducted from Mar. 2 to Mar. 5, 2007. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.