(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many more adults in the United States are now under the impression that the war on terror is on the wrong track, according to a poll by CBS News and the New York Times. 58 per cent of respondents say things are not going well for the U.S. in Afghanistan, the war’s main battleground, up 44 points since March 2003.

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 934 soldiers—including 574 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 Aug. 21, the New York Times called in an editorial for a review of the war on terror strategy, saying, "Unless the United States, NATO and its central Asian allies move quickly, they could lose this war. The following steps need to be taken in the coming weeks. Washington must finally make clear to Pakistan’s leaders the mortal threat they face. The Army must turn its attention from India to the fight against the Taliban. Civilian leaders must realize that there can be no separate peace with the extremists. Sending American troops or warplanes into Pakistani territory will only feed anti-American furies. That should be the job of Pakistan’s army, with intelligence help and carefully monitored financial support from the United States."

Polling Data

What is your impression of how the war in Afghanistan is going for the United States right now: very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?

Source: CBS News / New York Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,012 American adults, conducted from Aug. 15 to Aug. 19, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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