Polls & Research

Pull Troops Out of Afghanistan, Germans Say

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A majority of people in Germany consider the country's troops serving in Afghanistan should return home, according to a poll by TNS Infratest released by Der Spiegel. 57 per cent of respondents believe Germany should withdraw its troops, while 36 per cent say the country should keep its soldiers inside the country.

Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people. The war on terrorism was initiated in October 2001 after Afghanistan's Taliban regime refused to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Other attacks by Islamic extremists have followed after 9/11. One of them took place in Madrid, Spain's capital, in March 2004, and another one in London, in July 2005. It is widely believed the two nations were targeted for their involvement in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, which started in 2003.

Earlier this month, a video posted on the Internet by what is believed to be a terrorist organization linked to al-Qaeda included direct threats against Germany and Austria for their participation in the war. Calls for the withdrawal of the 3,000 soldiers have increased since two German nationals were kidnapped in Iraq last month.

On Mar. 19, German chancellor Angela Merkel and Afghan president Hamid Karzai met in Berlin. Merkel reiterated her nation's commitment to Afghanistan, saying, "The German government cannot be blackmailed (.) Naturally, given the situation, we are greatly concerned. We know what our commitment to the civilian rebuilding means to the Afghan government and we should not be blackmailed by people who are terrorists."

At least 538 soldiers—including 18 Germans—have died in the war on terrorism.

Polling Data

Do you think Germany should withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, keep the troops or increase its troop presence?