(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Canada believe their country’s participation in Afghanistan must come to an end as scheduled, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 61 per cent of respondents disagree with Canada extending the mission in Afghanistan beyond February 2009.

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 738 soldiers—including 73 Canadians—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).

Canadians renewed the House of Commons in January 2006. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 36.3 per cent of the vote, and secured 124 seats in the 308-member lower house. Harper leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.

In May 2006, the House of Commons extended Canada’s mission in Afghanistan until February 2009. In October, the government announced the creation of a special panel—chaired by Liberal member and former deputy prime minister John Manley—to study Canada’s participation in the Afghanistan mission.

Last month, Harper discussed the mission, saying, "The government understands we took on an important international commitment for important reasons of international security that in the long run impact directly on our country. So I don’t know whether Canadians do—or don’t—understand. I think Canadians are deeply troubled by the casualties. (...) We really have got to avoid taking a decision for reasons of short-term politics. We must take a decision that is in the long-run interest of the country, its international reputation and the respect we should all show for the sacrifice our men and women have made to secure it."

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? - Canada should extend the mission in Afghanistan beyond February 2009

Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,052 Canadian adults, conducted from Dec. 19 to Dec. 20, 2007. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

Other poll highlights: 47% regard Canadian participation as war mission; 57% say Afghan people are benefiting from Canadian efforts; 53% call for an early withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan; 60% say the Harper government has not effectively explained the mission; 71% say Canada is shouldering too much of the burden of NATO’s mission.

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