According to a YouGov survey for Channel 4 News, almost half of the UK public believe that military victory in Afghanistan is impossible and significant majorities think British troops are not winning the war and should be withdrawn either immediately or within the next year.
The survey figures were announced as thousands of protesters gathered in London to call on the government to bring the 9,000 strong British force in Afghanistan home.
Today's poll uncovered a much more pessimistic attitude towards the conflict than in a similiar survey in 2007, when 36% said that victory was impossible.
Just 6% of those taking part in the polls said that British troops were winning the war, compared with 36% who said they were not winning yet but eventual victory was possible and 48% who said that victory was not possible.
The figures suggested an overwhelming 84% believe that British troops are not winning the war with Taliban militias at present.
Asked when British troops should be brought home, 25% said 'immediately' and 37% said most should be withdrawn soon, with the remainder pulling out within a year or so.
Only 29% said the UK armed forces should remain 'as long as Afghanistan's government wants them there', compared with the total 62% who wanted them withdrawn immediately or in the coming year.
This won't be good news for Gordon Brown and his spin doctors, who have spent a great deal of time recently attempting to get the public onside. May the numbers against the war increase more and more.
The poll was undertaken on 22 and 23 October with 2,042 adults questioned.
Source: Herald
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8 comments:
"Everywhere I go, up and down the country, people say to me..... blah blah..." (fill in the gap with exactly what he wants them to have said).
So now he knows how we really feel, but that won't make any difference. He's a doomed man walking, so he'll carry on doing what America wants him to do, with the ever fading hope that he'll be the next recipient of the Congressional Medal.
Deluded ar*e.
I think once it goes to over 60% Brown will be finished Tris. Wonder if any others think the same?
I've said for months that we should be out of there post haste...and we should never have gone in there. I'm a great supported of Help for Heroes and the best way we can help them is by not being there.
History tells us that we can not win in this country. I'm not being defeatist just realistic. After all, if the Russians couldn't win (and they were brutal) then we have no chance.
The money saved can be put towards defending our borders properly and making it almost impossible for any foreign terrorist to gain access.
That, with a total ban on immigration might go some way to alleviate the situation.
I am greatly heartened to be able to say for once I am not in a tiny minority.
I'd second what Catosays says. There's not much more to it than that.
My sentiments exactly Cato. I do wish more of the public would speak out.
Not any longer Mark you're not. For a long time I've had my one woman protest going and I never understood why the anti-numbers were so low, but now many more may speak out.
The public perhaps get confused between support for the war and support for the troops. I'm trying to understand why so many don't see the whole picture.
Subrosa...I've jsut nicked your article and commented further thereon..Thank you.
My pleasure Cato, you're welcome anytime.
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