Gallup: Plurality supports increasing troops for Af-Pak
posted at 1:36 pm on November 25, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Perhaps the decision to increase troops is not quite as politically fraught as some might have thought. Gallup surveyed over 1,000 adults on the question, and surprisingly, almost a majority of them supported some form of troop increase for Afghanistan. In fact, combined with those who would leave troop levels static, it amounts to a mandate to stay and fight:
Americans over the last two weeks have become slightly more likely to favor sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, and slightly less likely to favor a reduction in forces. At this point, 47% of Americans would advise President Obama to increase the number of U.S. troops — either by the roughly 40,000 recommended by the commanding general in Afghanistan or by a smaller amount — while 39% would advise Obama to reduce the number of troops. Another 9% would opt to leave troop levels as they are, while 5% have no opinion.
The question in the Nov. 20-22 USA Today/Gallup poll gives respondents four choices and asks them to indicate which action they would most like to see President Obama take.
Asked the same question earlier in November, Americans tilted toward the troop-reduction option over the troop-increase option, 44% to 42%. Now, the data tilt in the other direction. Those who want a troop increase outnumber those who want a reduction, 47% to 39%.
The long wait for a decision by Obama may have had some salutary effect. As it became more clear that the decision really meant a go/no go on the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, there appears to have been a shift in thinking on the resourcing issue. Perhaps, too, as the administration sent out trial balloons on various levels on increase, it became clear that some sort of increase would happen, and people began to get comfortable with the idea.
It’s still a political problem, however. Republicans overwhelmingly want to increase troop levels (65%), but not independents, and especially not Democrats. Independents are roughly split between increasing (36%) and decreasing (37%). Fifty-seven percent of Democrats want troop reductions, though, while only 29% will countenance any kind of increase at all.
If Obama increases the troops and all goes well, he will find those numbers strengthening. If he fumbles the war after increasing the troops, he may have a real problem with independents on competency and Democrats on ideology. However, the trend at the moment seems to be at the President’s back for his expected troop increase.
Blowback
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In other words: Sh!t or get off the pot.
UltimateBob on November 25, 2009 at 1:38 PM
It’s not Obama’s strategy, or lack of one, that has the public support here. It’s the continued success in Iraq that has changed public opinion, and if we truly support COIN strategies, we can succeed.
Nethicus on November 25, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Because Americans are still winners at heart. We trust our military.
SouthernGent on November 25, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Did Obama get a heads up on this poll before he made his “decision?”
Loxodonta on November 25, 2009 at 1:47 PM
in other news….Rush got a caller stating that the seals court martial was payback for the pirate kill a couple of months ago
unseen on November 25, 2009 at 1:46 PM
unseen on November 25, 2009 at 1:47 PM
We are talking “combat” troops here, right?
OkieDoc on November 25, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Too bad it can’t be said for the man sitting in the White House.
Knucklehead on November 25, 2009 at 1:49 PM
I wonder how many Americans support our president taking 4 months to make up his mind?
gwelf on November 25, 2009 at 1:49 PM
It always comes down to politics with this asshat…
Hey Obama, grow a spine and make a principled decision for once in your life. It may be polar opposite to my preference, but at least I could respect you for being a man about it. As it stands now, not only are you philosophically bankrupt, you’re a pussy as well.
BPD on November 25, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Wonder if Barry will hail this “bipartisanship”? Who’d a thought that Republicans have Barry’s back. His own party, eh, not so much.
GarandFan on November 25, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Wonder if Barry will hail this “bipartisanship”? Who’d a thought that Republicans have Barry’s back. His own party, eh, not so much.
GarandFan on November 25, 2009 at 1:54 PM
As long as the GOP doesn’t cave on Obamacare/cap and tax for those troops. If the GOp allows the socialists to win in america for a victory in Afganistian that would be a major defeat for the forces of freedom and individual liberty
unseen on November 25, 2009 at 1:57 PM
That’s good, considering he himself said was a “war of necessity.” Damn straight. Now get to it.
Heartache tonight for the antiwarbots. Such a shame.
Good Lt on November 25, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Well if you wait long enough people will start saying hey do something…so Yes it is a good Idea to many until they get there and start getting arrested for punching a lowlife terrorist.
tomas on November 25, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Can someone explain to me why this SOB B. Hussein has to hold an event to announce his Afghanistan plan.
He’s delayed long enough… now we have to wait another 6 days so that he can get in front of the camera to tell us what he’s going to do? JUST F***ING DO IT!
RightWinged on November 25, 2009 at 2:01 PM
FIFY.
j_galt on November 25, 2009 at 2:03 PM
There’s a shocker. Much like the AGW true-believers are currently doubling down on their criminal fraud, the Stupid Party doubles down on their nation-building fail in the graveyard of empires.
Gee, I wonder what the poll would have shown had they been told that little detail.
Rae on November 25, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Umm… because… it’s all about Barry.
j_galt on November 25, 2009 at 2:04 PM
It’s so important a decision for Ogabe that he needs to make sure the venue is absolutely perfect.
“Now General, make sure the troops behind me clap and cheer or I will have you warming a chair in Adak, Alaska.”
Bishop on November 25, 2009 at 2:05 PM
If ObamaCare becomes law, the entire Middle East campaign will become academic.
Dark-Star on November 25, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Come again, how long was the Iraq war underresourced?
Maybe, it was because Bush wanted us to lose in Iraq because he was close to Abdullahs–kissing and holding hands and all–and hey, perhaps, he was closet Muslim.
I am sure I can spin if I try really hard. Or if I truly believe that a C-I-C really wants to lose the war.
You are not rightwinged, you are rightcrazed.
rightistliberal on November 25, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Of course… It was a rhetorical question, meant only to point out something I think everyone is missing. We’ve got headlines on Drudge, cable news repeating multiple times an hour that he’s making his announcement on December 1.
Everyone is missing the disgusting fact that he feels the need to make another ego boosting prime time event of giving commanders more troops… And he announces that the announcement is coming a week in advance. As I said, JUST F***ING DO IT! Media, where are you? Even Fox!? 3-4 months after McCrystal (who Obama hand picked to run this “right” war), dead and injured piled up, and now we get to wait just 1 more week for The One to make a public “announcement”. WTF have you done, America?
RightWinged on November 25, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Over at Ace’s, LauraW has a hilarious post of leftwingnuts at Dummie Underground calling each other chickenhawks for supporting Obama’s stance. The reality-based community meets that oh-so-terrible equalizer called “reality.”
“Ball-dippingly good” LOL
Good Lt on November 25, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Idiots here suppose 6 days will mean we can get the troops on ground.
Like, it’s that simple.
Any president must indulge in political hard-sell..that’s how it happens in a democracy!
rightistliberal on November 25, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Yeah, if only George Bush could have won it in 7 years. Seven long years. And that incompetent buffoon could not win in Afghanistan.
rightistliberal on November 25, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Where did I say anything about him being a Muslim or “wanting to lose the war”? But on that second point, he has considered returning parts of the country to the Taliban, which is essentially surrendering to the people he said (during the campaign) that we needed to defeat.
Anyway, again your reply to me was anything but. You just spouted some unrelated libtard talking points. My point was simply that while the media is all excited to announce that Obama will make his announcement on Tuesday… they’re missing just how absurd it is for this egomaniac to once again jump in front of the camera at prime time to make an announcement… and that he’s announcing the announcement a week in advance. We don’t care about seeing you on TV, just pull the trigger!
RightWinged on November 25, 2009 at 2:16 PM
See ya troll, you’re a waste of any thinking person’s time. We’ve all dealt with your kind before.
RightWinged on November 25, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Now poll the question as to when the American people want this troop increase. Now or on Odumbo’s schedule.
rjoco1 on November 25, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Dude, Does Obama have a huge ego? Yes. Fine!
But he has made a great decision on Afghanistan which his base is not supporting. Because his base wants us to come home. At least folks who support the war and understand its implications should support him on this issue? Or are we going to make it a bitch fest on his ego and all?
Because it sounds like people like you are not ready to support him whatever he does. That is Daily Kos and George Bush. Is that a comparison you want to uphold?
On deliberately losing the war, oh, plenty have said it on this website.
rightistliberal on November 25, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Can you actually respond to it? Is it not true? Why? Because the situation is far more complex then you guys think! Some of us know better; those who could locate Afghanistan on the map before 9/11.
rightistliberal on November 25, 2009 at 2:21 PM
He already has. Like I said on the other thread, Obama couldn’t lead a food fight. He needs to up the troops, up all resources, then get out of the way and let our military do its job.
And while I’m at it, I would suggest that we already have a war tax as waging wars is part of the job of our federal government. It’s the carbon tax and health tax that are not constitutionally mandated.
Connie on November 25, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Afghanistan is where superpowers go to get their butts handed to them. We’re going to be no exception, since we foolishly opted to try ‘nation building’ with a populace that neither ‘gets’ democracy or equality or even freedom in general, and is more fragmented than a dropped jigsaw puzzle.
Bush was far from perfect, and the Afghan campaign was a disaster in the making in the first place. Most of the blame does not go to him.
Dark-Star on November 25, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Bush made his mistakes and paid the price. But Bush finaly won in Iraq.
Afganistan is obamas baby now. His actions so far have been devistating to the military here and on the ground.
sonofdy on November 25, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Afghanistan can be won. But not by the current roe.
sonofdy on November 25, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Newsflash-Bush is no longer president.
rjoco1 on November 25, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Only if we deep-six another tax before we add a new one. Need I remind you that we’re in a recession?
Also, it should be only invoked after a declaration of war and only for a limited, specified time. Otherwise it’ll just be another straw on the camel’s back.
Dark-Star on November 25, 2009 at 2:32 PM
If Bozo doesn’t allow them to shoot the enemy, why send them?
If they’re going to be court martialled for giving a terrorist thug a fat lip, why send them?
I know you never served in the military. Its not complicated at all. We have a saying, “Don’t start a fight you don’t want to finish.” Our guys know where the Taliban and AQ are, but they’re not being allowed to kill them, out of misplaced and stupid concern for their local enablers.
If one finds oneself in a war then one must destroy the enemy and their infrastructure as thoroughly and completely as possible, as quickly as possible.
Or they kill you.
Its not complicated at all.
dogsoldier on November 25, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Define ‘won’.
We’re attempting to impose a puppet president on a ‘nation’ that’s a crazy quilt of Stone Age tribes that have been murdering each other for centuries. Short of an occupation force on a scale we haven’t seen since WW2 with utterly iron-fist ROE’s, we have no hope of ‘winning’ with our current strategy.
Dark-Star on November 25, 2009 at 2:34 PM
I understand. I was being sarcastic. I guess it’s difficult even for Fox News (I don’t watch much cable news) to simply get on tv and call the President a fool. I mean, that’s what most everyone is thinking, right? This guy Obama is a fool. His staff is full of fools who try to spin stuff so obviously false that it’s hard to comprehend. It’s like talking to a 3-year-old, or that one guy from your first college philosophy class, remember him? How do you argue with a guy who stands up and says, Hey, I’m a tree if I want to be a tree! How do you argue with a 3-year-old who simply disagrees with you as a point of rebellion.
j_galt on November 25, 2009 at 2:36 PM
I’ve got to (mostly) agree with Dark-Star at 2:26PM: What is it we’re trying to “win”? The only thing we ever needed to accomplish in Asscrackistan is the deaths of our enemies. There has never been a coherent central government there, and if one was to arise, from any external, internal or even ex deus, machinations it isn’t going to be anything to a Western liking. And there are no inducements to change that.
We should have left after about 15 months and tossed Musharraf the keys to the door; things couldn’t be any worse or better than they our now… except for fewer U.S. lives and dollars spent.
As for the poll; that’s one any President should ignore. The only needed plan here is one that weighs our country’s strategic interests against the human cost. And you don’t get that from a poll.
Christ, isn’t this what we castigated Clinton for- governance by poll?
Doorgunner on November 25, 2009 at 2:39 PM
How about this – Gallup surveyed over 1,000 adults on the question, and surprisingly, almost a majority of them supported some form of tax increase on the high income. In fact, combined with those who would leave tax levels on the high income static, it amounts to a mandate on tax increases on the high income.
Pretty much the same idea. Of course if most people were subject to a draft or were classified as high income it would be a very different poll result.
MB4 on November 25, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Yet again, there are almost no AlQ in Afghanistan anymore and McChrystal doesn’t exactly seem too set on fighting the Taliban either.
We don’t win by destroying the Taliban. We don’t win by body count. We don’t win by the number of successful military raids or attacks, we win when the [Afghan] people decide we win.
- General Stanley “Bridge on the River Kwai” McChrystal
MB4 on November 25, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Afghanistan
We all have the same hope for our troops’ victory.
1. Obama said the right message back in March.
2. Obama has failed to carry through on message.
3. All anticipate withdrawal of Western armed forces.
4. At this point, any “message of intent” from Chameleon Obama holds only metaphysical and transient validity.
I agree with Fred Thompson’s assessment discussed with his guest Pete Hegseth on today’s show, November 25 2009. They shared a mutually aligned understanding of the situation. Having read the EXIT STRATEGY writing on the wall, NATO and ally forces are departing, and Obama will simply be using American troops to fill in the vacating positions rather than strengthening troop level for a total increase in number.
“It didn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t even have to be this way. But that’s the way it is.” Given Obama’s decisions reflecting his antipathy both for our Military and his Constitutional official duties, without an about-face from Obama supported by his own “hold the course”, God help our troops because Obama won’t.
We face the reality of Obama’s DECISIONS, actions and inaction that have the cumulative effect leaving our magnificent military under Obama’s thumb-bus. Obama won’t lift a finger to defend our troops, rather, Obama initiates more PC abuse to hamper the effectiveness of our entire Military (Ft. Hood Hasan/”victim”, 9/11 terrorist trial in NYC CIVIL court, prosecute Navy Seals for the “war crime” of capturing the world’s most WANTED terrorist ALLEGEDLY punched in the nose ACCORDING TO THE TERRORIST). Defending terrorists while prosecuting Navy Seals shuts out any chance for positive troop morale while nailing Obama’s Afghan war effort shut to hide from view all those troops whom Obama left hanging in the wind. Leaving our troops under rules of engagement orders that put them in harms way without the “right” to fight back as warriors is unforgivable.
maverick muse on November 25, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Is anyone thinking that O has been waiting until the polls on the increase improved before committing? You know, those polls that Axelgrease said that they pay no attention to. Four month old waffles sure are hard to chew.
GnuBreed on November 25, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Just shut up and get in line.–BHO
Yep: Happy New Year.
maverick muse on November 25, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Yeah, but only the latter part is has any likelihood of happening…this administration wouldn’t touch the draft with a 39 & 1/2 foot pole!
Dark-Star on November 25, 2009 at 3:00 PM
I didn’t say we need a war tax. I said that war is already covered by the taxes we currently pay. Health and carbon are not and shouldn’t be.
Connie on November 25, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Del Dolemonte on November 25, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Well just got home from work. Found out a nice little tidbit. I work at the US Military Academy at West Point. I was told by my supervisor that President Obama will be there on Tuesday. MMMM got me thinking will he be making the announcement of the troop build up with the Corps of Cadets as a Photo-Op. Remember what he said to our troops on his Asia Tour ” you guys make a great photo-op”.
USMCDevilDog on November 25, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Unprecidented!
farright on November 25, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Unfortunately, that doesn’t include yourself…
As far as trolls go, you are a -10.
lovingmyUSA on November 25, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Well, we were on the right track until the new ROE, and Oditterer’s ditthering…
What Failure in Afghanistan?
By Fareed Zakaria
Monday, October 12, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101101552_pf.html
At the heart of Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s request for a major surge in troops is the assumption that we are failing in Afghanistan. But are we really? The United States has had one central objective: to deny al-Qaeda the means to reconstitute, to train and to plan major terrorist attacks. This mission has been largely successful for the past eight years. Al-Qaeda is dispersed, on the run and unable to direct attacks of the kind it planned and executed routinely in the 1990s. Fourteen of the top 20 leaders of the group have been killed by drone attacks. Its funding sources are drying up, and its political appeal is at an all-time low. All this is not an accident but rather a product of the U.S. presence in the region and efforts to disrupt terrorists, track funds, gain intelligence, aid development, help allies and kill enemies.
——————————————————————————————–
Massive A’stan Haul: 500,000 Pounds of Bomb-Making Material
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/11/massive-astan-haul-500000-pounds-of-bomb-making-material/
The primary weapon in the Taliban’s deadly, dumbed-down arsenal of explosives is the simple fertilizer bomb. Each one typically weighs 50 or 60 pounds. Each one is powerful enough to blow holes in armored vehicles, and kill soldiers instantly.
So it is an extremely big deal that NATO and Afghan troops announced today that they found 500,000 pounds of the stuff — along with 5,000 improvised bomb components — in a Kandahar compound.
lovingmyUSA on November 25, 2009 at 5:06 PM
No, because as I said you’re a troll who isn’t worth wasting time on. We’ve all run across your type before, and after responding a couple of times, I’m done… not getting dragged in to your idiot fest. Why? Because what you do is get each point you raised shot down, then you just keep throwing more shiite against the wall, hoping something will stick, until we’re so far off point it’s irrelevant.
I will close in saying one thing, again, however… There are plenty of us who support the war… IF WE ARE IN IT TO WIN IT, but if we aren’t BRING THEM HOME. If we’re going to hand the country, or even parts of it, back to Islamists, any deaths or injuries going forward are pointless. Also, my point stands that it is disgusting that we have to wait a week just to watch The One make a prime time announcement. How about this POS just does his job and stays off of our TVs for a couple of minutes. He could just make the decision and perhaps issue a press release so that we at least know he’s done something… But this big announcement is ridiculous and disgusting. There are real lives on the line.
But by all means, get back to talking about Bush or finding Afghanistan on a map, or whatever other irrelevant crap you can come up with.
RightWinged on November 25, 2009 at 5:58 PM
We could be missing something here.
Ojugsy has been dithering while he gets his face to face with the chicoms, rag heads and all tin pots the world over.
I am quite sure in these face to face meetings (sans TOTUS) the conversation has gone along the lines of, [Obarfy voice over]:
“You know umm prime minister, we umm in America have errr a saying. I goes, ‘If you uh can’t stand the heat, get out of the umm kitchen’”.
Translated something along the lines of: “When the oil begins to smoke, fry no pork.”
Jugsy intones, “So, I ummm want you and your country to understand that I umm am making a promise. The buck stops umm here.”
This gets relayed as, ” I am a very smart leader to you. Each boy Deer must wee-wee in the room.”
And he continues, “America will not try to win uh in Afghanistan if errr you will join hands with me in friendship, and a few campaign dollars umm for my future reelection run. You know umm that I will uh bend over backwards to maintain peace between our two nations.”
Now this comes out as, ” As I bow before you in servitude while showing my ass to the world, rest assured America will be yours.”
So, now we can see why the world leaders all think he’s a buffoon, and why the right minded ones give him the shitty eye. All he knows he learned in Chicago, dally and dither and expect all to be forgiven because his intentions are good. After all the World is a big community to organize.
When he’s gotten his message out via envoys as to what he’s going to announce, it’s the poll from his cadre heads of state as they relay back what they want out of it. Then if the wind shifts, he has to choose another tack.
“You sir umm, are a lion!”
“I thought I saw a puty tat”.
OkieDoc on November 25, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Had to FIFM
OkieDoc on November 25, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Obama….not going on primetime television?
….Surely you jest, sir!
/s
Hawkins1701 on November 25, 2009 at 8:33 PM