Nearly six in 10 Americans oppose the nine-year-old war in Afghanistan, even as President Barack Obama is sending more troops to fight in that country, according to the AP-GfK poll.
With just over 10 weeks left before nationwide elections that could define the remainder of Obama's first term, 58 per cent oppose Obama's expanded war effort in Afghanistan, while only 38 per cent say they support it, a drop from 46 per cent in March.
Just 19 per cent expect the situation to improve during the next year, while 29 per cent think it will get worse. Some 49 per cent think it will remain the same, CBS News reports.
The opposition of war in Afghanistan by majority of Americans could depress Democratic turnout when the party desperately needs to energize its supporters for midterm congressional elections, the report adds.
"I think we really need to give them an opportunity to economically, socially grow, I think it's more helpful if we're not in their face all the time, so the deadline is, I think, a good thing, to see how stable they are," Mary Campbell, a Lawrence city worker, said.
Over 1,100 American soldiers have died in Afghanistan since fighting began in October 2001, including a monthly record of 66 in July this year. Last fall, Obama authorized an increase in troops in Afghanistan by 30,000 to 100,000, triple the level from 2008.
{{/usCountry}}Over 1,100 American soldiers have died in Afghanistan since fighting began in October 2001, including a monthly record of 66 in July this year. Last fall, Obama authorized an increase in troops in Afghanistan by 30,000 to 100,000, triple the level from 2008.
{{/usCountry}}Many in Congress have expressed doubts that the military effort can succeed without a tough campaign against bribery and graft that have eroded the Afghan people's trust in their government.