Entering its tenth year, the Afghanistan War continues to grow increasingly unpopular with the American public. In the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, a record 63% of Americans expressed opposition. Here was the partisan breakdown:
Republicans- 52% support, 44% oppose
Democrats- 24% support, 74% oppose
Independents- 35% support, 63% oppose
2010 was the bloodiest year of the nearly decade-long conflict, with a record number of American troops (498) & NATO troops (711) killed, a 20% increase in civilian deaths, a record number of IED attacks, and a major increase in the number of kidnapped journalists. In addition, Pakistan suffered a record number of deaths caused by suicide bombings.
Since the war started in 2001, 1,445 U.S. troops have been killed, and the U.S. has spent just over $381 billion. And since Obama became President, the U.S. has increased troop levels by 51,000, accelerated the rate of spending, and launched a record number of Drone attacks inside Pakistan.