Only One-Third Of Americans Support Troop Surge In Afghanistan: BBC Poll

BBC World News America just announced a new poll revealing that only one-third of Americans support sending additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

Below is the press release, we'll link to the story when it's available online.

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- Harris Interactive® and BBC World News America launch new polling partnership -

ROCHESTER, N.Y. and WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 26, 2009 - The findings of the first-ever BBC World News America /The Harris Poll® show that just one-third of Americans support sending more troops to Afghanistan and just over one-quarter believe fewer troops should be committed. The results are particularly notable because President Obama has backed a 30,000 strong troop surge for Afghanistan this year.

The poll also reveals that, after the economy, health care is by far the most important issue that people want the new President to address. This is especially true among Democrats and baby boomers.

These results are part of a new polling partnership launched by BBC World News America, the BBC's U.S. facing nightly newscast, and Harris Interactive® in what will be an ongoing effort to take the pulse of American public opinion.

The new poll will regularly measure Americans' perceptions, beliefs and opinions on a wide range of timely and topical subjects from politics and health care to the economy, world events and more.

The first set of results from the new polling partnership will be incorporated into Moment of Change, a special series airing this week on BBC World News America, examining how the new administration will tackle some of the country's most pressing issues. America's reputation abroad is the focus of the first piece airing on tonight's program with the economy, energy, the environment and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan being examined throughout the week.

"Harris Interactive is thrilled to partner with the BBC, one of the most prestigious news organizations in the world, for this new venture," stated Humphrey Taylor - Chairman of The Harris Poll® at Harris Interactive. "It's a wonderful addition to The Harris Poll and a great chance for us to ask some very interesting questions together."

Rome Hartman, Executive Producer BBC World News America, adds: "We believe this partnership will produce insights that will help us deliver even smarter, more sophisticated and relevant coverage to our audience."

Comments

[Ergon]

Main NATO supply route through Pakistan almost completely cut off, secondary supply route too close to Iran, expensive new route going throgh Russian allies Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Essentially you have a foreign army in Afghanistan, hated by the people, and complete sitting ducks.

[kassandrasduplex]

Gotta protect that line of piipes carrying all that vaporized petroleum product.

[kassandrasduplex]

When did the Iraq War end? I missed that part...

[Mogamboguru]

In 98 percent of what he has said and done so far, I agree with President Obama 100 percent.

But in the other 2 percent, I disagree with President Obama 100 percent.

# 1. B.o.m.b.i.n.g. Pakistan is totally s.t.u.p.i.d. For every Waziri k.i.l.l.e.d. by american b.o.m.b.s. or .r.o.c.k.e.t.s., ten new m.u.j.a.h.­e.d.d.e.e.­n. will rise to f.i.g.h.t. the US-troops in Afghanistan for retaliation

# 2. Afghanistan is and will always remain a. s.n.a.k.e.p.i.t. of biblical proportions. Every person with more than three brain-cells working would take his stuff and run from this historic "G.r.a.v.e.y.a.r.d of Armies" , as fast as his legs will move him.

Just leave those people alone. The USA has nothing to gain, but everything to lose there.

I am afraid, that his engagement in/for Afghanistan will become the one, b.i.g, f.a.t.t.y stain on Obama's presidency.

[kassandrasduplex]

Ask yourself, what is American policy in the ME? it has a lot to do with why the Russians were there. The tali ban are a cover for other aims.

[kassandrasduplex]

We willsee Obama's true intentions very soon. And they differ little from his predecessor. Crude and gas. Crude and gas.

[Mogamboguru]

[kassandrasduplex]

Some stuff blocked other stuff not.

[kassandrasduplex]

test

[kassandrasduplex]

The international marketing of American Imperialism has begun. with a Muslim name and an African American face.
"Americans are not your enemies."
A miilion Iraqis, who knows how many Afghans and Iranians and Pakistanis and the man responsible is not being prosecuted for anything. Obama is planning 100K regulars in Afghanistan, unkown number of mercenaries.. And they aren't there for Been Forgotten. Why exactly are the Taliban our enemies again?

[mamacat]

I thought our reason for going to Afghanistan was to get bin Laden. So, what is all this other stuff about telling the Afghanis how to live their lives? I am not so sure that our real reason for being there hasn't been to make American corporations rich selling M-16s and other assorted paraphernalia.

[dgr]

What are we there for?
If this is another attempt at nation building it will certainly fail.
On the other hand if our efforts are aimed at protecting the pipeline and a continued search for Bin Laden then at least our presence there has some sense.
Maybe it is time for us to abandon the area and leave it to the next would be conqueror.

[southwindow]

afghanistan is the graveyard of empires. Looking at how our's is fairing lately, ... well lets just say I'd like our grand suttee to be in a nicer place down the road, not on the funeral pyre of kandahar.

[CologneCitizen]

I agree. Iraq was a no win situation, Afghanistan is next as a no win deal. As your economy is in deep trouble, you rather should concentrate financial resources on home grounds instead of a useless adventure.

[streak of rin tin tin]

Tester

[AliMB]

I don't know how accurate this poll will be come a few months when the president (who has a lot of political capital) begins pitching the surge with the full support Republicans. Regardless, the truth is clear: there will be an escalation in Afghanistan that will result in more loss of treasure and life... it is anyone's guess how that will go over with the public. Also, the Marine Corps will begin shifting to the Afghani theatre in mass (the Commandant is already on record advocating such a policy)... the marines will bring their more a g g r e s s i v e tactics, and if they add more MEUs (moving d e a t h for an enemy) look for the b o d y counts to really start piling up (the A r a b network interviews might not be so positive then). The military can do its best to avoid civilian c a s u a l t i e s (even at the risk to their own safety), but when you are conducting o f f e n s i v e operations you will always cause collateral damage. President Bush got one thing right: never implement policy (especially defense policy) based on polls.

[freddiefreeloader]

The only thing I would tell the Marine corps is , do what you have to do, but bring me the head of Osama Bin Laden, but your not going to find it in Iraq.

[rosal]

The country has forgotten about the Taliban and Osama. Thanks to Bush and Co. the American people don't want to hear about sending troops anywhere, anymore. Right after 9-11 the people were anxious to send troops to Afghanistan, we sure have a short memory.

[orangepetal]

Don't we have other better ways to target terrorists. Of course we do.