U.S. President Barack Obama greets cadets after speaking about his decision to increase U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan by about 30,000 during a speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, on December 1, 2009. The buildup is targeted to reverse the Taliban advances in the country and to train Afghan soldiers and police. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg |
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NEW YORK, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Around 30 percent of American respondents to a survey said U.S. policy in Afghanistan was headed in the right direction, a Harris poll indicated.
An online review, conducted Oct. 11-18, of the sentiments of 3,084 U.S. adults indicated that 58 percent of the respondents said U.S. President Barack Obama didn't have a good strategy for Afghanistan. Only 26 percent of those who participated in the poll, however, said they felt Washington should pull its troops out of Afghanistan and 34 percent said a timetable for withdrawal was a good idea.
Obama in December rolled out a war strategy for Afghanistan that focused on building an Afghan military that could stand on its own. The strategy focused on fighting al-Qaida and Taliban militants so Kabul could have the security needed to develop politically and militarily.
About half of the participants in the Harris poll said they didn't see much change in Afghanistan, while 11 percent said they saw improvements.
The poll comes as U.S. voters head to the polls for midterm elections that could see Republicans take control of Congress. Harris said the sparse media attention given to the Afghan war might be good for Democrats.
"However, President Obama may not be as lucky as he starts planning for his re-election," the polling group said.
