December 28, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many American adults support their country's presence in Afghanistan but question its success so far, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 56 per cent of respondents approve of the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, and 58 per cent believe neither side is winning the conflict.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many American adults support their country’s presence in Afghanistan but question its success so far, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 56 per cent of respondents approve of the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, and 58 per cent believe neither side is winning the conflict.

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 737 soldiers—including 468 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).

Earlier this month, former German foreign minister Joschka Fischer questioned the current strategy in Afghanistan, saying, "The Bush administration is not the sole culprit for the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. It was NATO’s job to ensure the country’s stability and security, and thus NATO’s weak general secretary and the European allies, especially Germany and France, share the responsibility for the worsening situation."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of the U.S. military action in Afghanistan?

	Dec. 2007	Mar. 2007	Aug. 2006
Approve	56%	53%	56%
Disapprove	41%	41%	41%
Unsure	3%	6%	3%

Who do you think is currently winning the war in Afghanistan: the U.S. and its allies, the insurgents in Afghanistan, or neither side?

	Dec. 2007	Aug. 2006
The U.S. and its allies	30%	28%
The insurgents in Afghanistan	10%	10%
Neither side	58%	58%
Unsure	2%	5%

Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,024 American adults, conducted from Dec. 6 to Dec. 9, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.