Opinions, options mixed for Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Public perception of the conflict in Afghanistan remains mixed, polls show, while Washington continues to deliberate over the appropriate strategy.

U.S. President Barack Obama and his top military strategists are debating the next step in the conflict in Afghanistan. Officials are debating a series of nation-building, counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency options for the war.

Charles Faddis, a former CIA officer at the agency's weapons of mass destruction terrorism unit, told the global geopolitical monitoring service ISRIA that Washington needs to review carefully its next move in Afghanistan.

"We went there to drive out al-Qaida," he said. "Somehow we now find ourselves trying to build an entire nation-state on the Western model where no such entity has ever existed. Before we slide any further down that slope, I suggest we pause and reflect on the likely cost."

His comments come as a series of polls weighing the public reaction to the war in Afghanistan paints a mixed picture from the American public.

A survey from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press from September found roughly half of the U.S. population favors keeping American troops in Afghanistan, down from 57 percent in June.

Meanwhile, a review of recent polling by the Pew Center finds that while the American public is divided over deployments, most Americans understand the reason for the engagement.

"Most Americans say failure in Afghanistan would result in dire consequences for the United States," the Pew report said.