Poll: Canadians say the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable

[StarfarerBill]

A recent telephone survey suggests that 66 per cent of Canadians believe the military build-up in Afghanistan will not defeat the Taliban, while only 34 per cent think the war in Afghanistan can be won.

As the war in Afghanistan enters its ninth year and still continues, violence going up and military presence increases, majority of Canadians believe that it’s pointless because it’s unwinnable. A new survey released on Tuesday by Ipsos Reid shows that 66 per cent of Canadians think the war in unwinnable, according to AFP. While the people who do think the war is winnable remains in the low 30s.

Two-thirds of telephone respondents disagreed with the statement: “the build-up of troops will ultimately create a military victory over the Taliban.” Canadians remain pessimistic even though United States President Barack Obama will send an additional 30,000 troops to the region and NATO also will send several thousand more.

Press TV notes that Canada has 2,800 soldiers in the southern Kandahar province but 134 soldiers have died since they entered in 2002.

More:
http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2009/12/30/poll-canadians-say-the-war-in-afghanistan-is-unwinnable.html

[gleaner]

1. I agree with the Canadians ....

Afghanistan is Obama's Viet Nam. You can't talk in terms of "winning" when you are fighting a guerrilla war in someone else's country. Especially when there is no front, per se, just a very mobile opposition which moves from place to place and country to country when things get too hot for them.

Also, we are supposed to be "fighting" Al-Quiada (sp). The Taliban is a fundamentalist offshoot of Islam like our Fundie Christians here. They follow the most extreme beliefs and want to take the world back to the way it was during the great Caliphate centuries ago. They support Al-Quiada and use terrorism themselves to obtain their goals, but they are not the same thing. Many belong to Al-Quiada, I'm sure, and use terrorism, but they are not the designated enemy of choice.

[Double T]

4. Many armies have tried to conquer Afghanistan without success.

The outcome will be the same for the USA. The Canadians have it right.

[gleaner]

6. Yup, they do .....

just ask the Russians. They were the last contenders I believe. The whole thing is insane. What is this administration doing with their brains? Sitting on them? Because they sure aren't using them to think with. In case you hadn't guessed, I do not support this or any other war.

[Double T]

7. THIS administration is supporting the military industrial complex.

[gleaner]

8. I know ...

That's why I don't support this administration either. Obama lied to get elected. The only thing he did tell the truth about was continuing in Afghanistan. I had to swallow hard on that one, but the alternative was John McCain who was a Bush clone. I feel like Obama sold us out and he won't be enjoying my support again. Not on his domestic policies and not on his wars. That includes the secret war in Yemen and the drones into Pakistan. Think of it. Troops still in Iraq, more troops sent to Afghanistan, doing who knows what in Yeman, and dropping drones into Pakistan which has nukes. That makes four separate fronts by my count. And at home the corporations drink our blood. The whole thing reeks.

[rwheeler31]

2. With Karzi there is no chance.

[amborin]

3. the Canadians are right: this is an unwinnable quagmire, with no clear goals

[Enthusiast]

5. I agree with the Canadians.

I have given this a lot of thought. I have tried to convince myself that President Obama is right. He isn't.