Wavering Support: Public Opinion On The War In Afghanistan

Public opinion on the war in Afghanistan has shifted over time. In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the US public supported military action against those responsible, with 93% backing the war in Afghanistan in particular. However, as the war dragged on, public support waned. By 2010-2014, public opinion had turned sharply against the war, and by 2016, Americans wanted out. While the US public supported the decision to withdraw troops, many disapproved of how the withdrawal was executed.

Support for the war in Afghanistan waned over time, with the public turning against it around 2010-2014

The war in Afghanistan was initially popular, with 93% of Americans backing military action against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks. In the early months of the fighting, support for the war at times topped 90%. However, as the war dragged on, public opinion began to shift. By 2004, only 38% of Democrats favoured maintaining current troop levels, compared to 34% of Republicans.

Around 2010-2014, public opinion turned sharply against the war. Under President Obama, the number of US troops in the country hit 100,000, the highest point of the war. During this time, several incidents further eroded public support for the war, including the capture of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl by the Taliban, international criticism of American troops for their mistreatment of Afghans, and a mass shooting of Afghan civilians allegedly committed by an American soldier.

Even the death of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, did little to bolster support for the war. A month after his death, 54% of Americans said the war wasn't worth fighting. A year later, 66% of Americans opposed the war.

By 2016, Donald Trump was elected president on a platform that included a promise to end US troop involvement in Afghanistan. In 2020, Trump entered a deal with the Taliban, and in 2021, President Biden announced a plan to withdraw all US troops by September 11, 2021.

In summary, while the war in Afghanistan initially had broad public support, this support waned over time as the war dragged on and various incidents and controversies eroded public confidence in the mission. By the time of the US withdrawal in 2021, public opinion had turned decisively against the war.

Americans were critical of the Biden administration's handling of the situation in Afghanistan

Public opinion on the war in Afghanistan has shifted over time. While the war initially received widespread support from Americans, this support has waned significantly over the past two decades. By 2021, Americans were largely in favour of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, but many criticised the Biden administration's handling of the situation.

In the early days of the war, the American public supported military action against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks. In the fall of 2001, 93% of Americans backed taking military action, with more than eight in ten respondents saying their support extended to going to war. The decision to attack Afghanistan specifically was also popular, with support for the war sometimes exceeding 90% in its early months.

However, even at the outset of the war, Americans had doubts about the chances of success and anticipated a high number of casualties. Over time, support for the war declined, and by 2010-2014, public opinion had turned sharply against it. This shift in opinion coincided with several tumultuous events, including an increase in the number of U.S. troops in the country, the capture of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl by the Taliban, and international criticism of American troops for their mistreatment of Afghans.

Despite the declining support for the war, Americans were critical of the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021. Several polls indicated that a majority of Americans believed the process had been handled poorly, and Biden received low marks for his handling of the situation. For example, a CBS News poll found that 74% of respondents believed the removal of troops had been handled badly, and 67% said that Biden did not have a clear plan for evacuating American civilians. Similarly, a USA Today/Suffolk poll showed a 27% approval rating for Biden's handling of Afghanistan.

While there was a sharp partisan divide on the decision to withdraw troops, with more Democrats supporting the decision, criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the situation came from both Democrats and Republicans. A large majority of Republicans (82%) said the administration had done a poor job, while one-in-five Democrats also expressed a negative view.

The US public was divided on whether military involvement in Afghanistan was a mistake

However, as the war in Afghanistan dragged on, public opinion shifted. By 2004, 41% of Democrats considered the war to be a mistake, compared to just 9% of Republicans. Support for the war continued to decline, and by 2010-2014, public opinion had turned sharply against it. A 2011 CBS poll found that most Americans were only willing to stay in the war for a few more years, with only 3% wanting to remain for another five to ten years.

By 2021, Americans' support for the war had consistently waned over the past two decades. While the Taliban's swift takeover of the country led to debates over the execution of the withdrawal, most Americans agreed that it was past time to leave. A Gallup poll from July 6-21, 2021, found that 47% believed sending troops to Afghanistan was a mistake, while 46% disagreed. An AP-NORC poll from August 12-16, 2019, showed that 62% of Americans believed the war was not worth fighting.

Despite the division on whether military involvement was a mistake, there was broad support for President Biden's decision to withdraw all troops. However, the way the withdrawal was handled received mixed reviews, with many believing it was poorly executed.

The US public supported the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

A similar pattern was observed in a Chicago Council Survey conducted in July 2021, which found that 70% of Americans supported the withdrawal of US combat forces from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. This support spanned partisan lines, with 77% of Democrats, 73% of Independents, and 56% of Republicans in favour of the decision.

The support for the withdrawal of troops was also reflected in other polls conducted around the same time. A Quinnipiac poll in May found 62% approval, while an Economist/YouGov poll in April showed 58% approval for the withdrawal plan. Notably, majorities in military households (61%) and those serving or having served in the military (52%) also supported the withdrawal.

However, it is important to note that public opinion on the presence of US troops in Afghanistan has been complex and nuanced. Some polls indicated ambivalence or a lack of strong opinions on the topic. Additionally, the approval of the withdrawal decision does not necessarily extend to the handling of the process, as many Americans believed that the withdrawal could have been conducted more effectively.

The US public was concerned about the threat of terrorism from Afghanistan

The US public supported the war in Afghanistan in its early years. A Washington Post/ABC News poll released two days after the 9/11 attacks found that 93% of Americans backed taking military action against whoever was responsible for the attacks. A November Washington Post/ABC News poll found 71% of Americans supported sending large numbers of troops into Afghanistan.

However, the war in Afghanistan became increasingly unpopular over time. In 2010-2014, public opinion turned sharply against the war despite the death of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. In 2016, Donald Trump was elected president on an "America First" platform that included a promise to end US troop involvement in Afghanistan.

By 2021, the year the US withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, the war was widely seen as a failure. A poll by AP/NORC found that 62% of Americans thought the war in Afghanistan wasn't worth fighting. A poll by Pew found that 69% of Americans didn't think the US had achieved its goals in Afghanistan.

The US public's concerns about terrorism from Afghanistan were heightened by the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country following the US withdrawal. In June 2021, the Pentagon's top leaders said an extremist group like al-Qaeda may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the US homeland within two years of the US military's withdrawal from the country. In August 2021, the head of US Central Command noted that "ISIS-K may gain strength and be emboldened to expand its operations and target neighbouring countries" absent sustained US pressure.

The US public's concerns about terrorism from Afghanistan were also heightened by the Taliban's links to terrorist groups. The Taliban had close links with several terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, and allowed them to rebuild and reestablish training camps in the country. In addition, Afghanistan was seen as a weak and failing state, which provided a favourable environment for terrorist groups to operate.

The US public's concerns about terrorism from Afghanistan were further heightened by specific terrorist incidents. In March 2021, ISIS-K gunmen attacked a Sikh temple in Kabul, killing 25 and injuring 11. In May 2021, ISIS-K gunmen killed 24 people, including mothers and babies, and injured at least 20 in a complex attack on a maternity ward in Kabul. In November 2021, ISIS-K gunmen killed 20 people and injured 28 in an attack on Kabul University.

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