Posted by Doug Bandow on 12/31/09 12:36 PM Last updated 12/31/09 11:14 AM   [Newer: The Corruption of Bail-Outs] [Older: Life is Good: If You're Working for the Government!]

Although the president enjoyed an upsurge in support for his Afghanistan policy after his speech, Americans again are growing more pessimistic about his plan to escalate the war.  According to Rasmussen Reports:

Following President Obama's speech outlining his new strategy, there was a bounce in optimism about the war in Afghanistan. But the bounce has ended and confidence has fallen again. Confidence has also fallen in the broader War on Terror.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 21% of U.S. voters now think the situation in Afghanistan will get better over the next six months. That's down 13 points from the survey immediately following the president's speech.

Prior to that, voter confidence that things will get better in Afghanistan ranged from a low of 13% in October to a high of 29% in late June.

Forty-five percent (45%) now believe the situation in Afghanistan will worsen in the next six months, up six points from early December. Still, that's a modest improvement when compared to attitudes captured from August until the President's speech.

Following the president's speech announcing his two-pronged strategy for the war, 53% supported his plan to send another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, and nearly as many (47%) liked his plan to begin withdrawing troops in 18 months. Put the two together, however, and 37% supported the overall plan, while 38% opposed it. 

Who can blame the American people for doubting the war?  Unfortunately, a tough, realistic appraisal of the chances of creating an honest, representative, and effective government in Kabul is unlikely to yield anything but pessimism.  Instead of escalating the war, the president should be developing a program for withdrawal.

Doug Bandow, American Conservative Defense Alliance

Posted 01/01/10 04:00 AM illuminati hater Las Vegas, NV

Obama made a pledge to start pulling troops out of the Middle-East by 2011. When he announces the first strike on Yemen, that plan is going to go right out the window. If Obama thinks his approval rating is bad now, just wait until the people wake-up to the thousands that are going to be dying once we start bombing that area.

Posted 01/02/10 04:56 AM fremmasmind Henderson, NV

Obama, like every other politician either takes the script handed to them or reads their teleprompter. The only thing it takes to be a politician these days is to be tops in the field of orating. Their opinions, their thoughts aren't needed as their words are written for them. All they have to do is deliver the script. So much for democracy.

Posted 01/02/10 5:53 PM Glenn Cumming, GA

I guess it'd be asking to much to pose the following question to a random sample of people living in the several States: Do you support the use of remote-controlled planes to kill unidentified people or people that have not been proven to be involved in any wrong-doing? And no, you may not consider what country they live in. http://news.antiwar.com/2010/01/01/at-least-seven-killed-as-us-drones-lau nch-two-attacks-in-north-waziristan/