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| Western support for Afghanistan war collapsing, survey shows | Western support for Afghanistan war collapsing, survey shows |
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| Public support for the war in Afghanistan is collapsing in western and Nato member countries, with 53% of Europeans and 44% of Americans favouring the immediate withdrawal of all troops, an international survey shows. | Public support for the war in Afghanistan is collapsing in western and Nato member countries, with 53% of Europeans and 44% of Americans favouring the immediate withdrawal of all troops, an international survey shows. |
| Large majorities – 75% of European respondents and 68% of Americans – support either withdrawal or an immediate troop reduction, according to the annual transatlantic trends survey conducted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. | Large majorities – 75% of European respondents and 68% of Americans – support either withdrawal or an immediate troop reduction, according to the annual transatlantic trends survey conducted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. |
| In each of the top European Nato members supplying troops in Afghanistan, the majority of respondents preferred complete withdrawal: Germany (51%), the UK (52%), Italy (55%), France (61%), and Poland (62%). | In each of the top European Nato members supplying troops in Afghanistan, the majority of respondents preferred complete withdrawal: Germany (51%), the UK (52%), Italy (55%), France (61%), and Poland (62%). |
| The number of Americans who preferred increasing troop levels in Afghanistan shrank from 30% in 2009 to 5% this year, and the proportion wanting immediate withdrawal rose nine points in a year, from 35% in 2011. | The number of Americans who preferred increasing troop levels in Afghanistan shrank from 30% in 2009 to 5% this year, and the proportion wanting immediate withdrawal rose nine points in a year, from 35% in 2011. |
| The findings come amid worries that the security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating after a spate of lethal attacks on coalition troops by members of the Afghan army and police, and continuing casualties among Afghan civilians. | The findings come amid worries that the security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating after a spate of lethal attacks on coalition troops by members of the Afghan army and police, and continuing casualties among Afghan civilians. |
| Under present plans, the US and British governments are committed to handing over security control to Afghan forces and withdrawing their troops by 2014. Little substantive progress has been made in peace talks with the Taliban, despite numerous initiatives in the past two years. | Under present plans, the US and British governments are committed to handing over security control to Afghan forces and withdrawing their troops by 2014. Little substantive progress has been made in peace talks with the Taliban, despite numerous initiatives in the past two years. |
| The survey found a sharp increase in public doubts about the prospects for a successful outcome in Afghanistan: 56% of Americans said they were pessimistic and 38% optimistic, an almost exact reversal of the findings two years ago. On average, 70% of Europeans were gloomy about the conflict, with the French (84%) and the Germans (81%) the most pessimistic of all. | The survey found a sharp increase in public doubts about the prospects for a successful outcome in Afghanistan: 56% of Americans said they were pessimistic and 38% optimistic, an almost exact reversal of the findings two years ago. On average, 70% of Europeans were gloomy about the conflict, with the French (84%) and the Germans (81%) the most pessimistic of all. |
| The survey reveals that public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic is split on the overall wisdom of military intervention. Fewer than 50% of people in most European countries believed the Iraq and Afghanistan interventions were worthwhile. Even last year's Libya Nato intervention, which was judged successful at the time, received very mixed support. | The survey reveals that public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic is split on the overall wisdom of military intervention. Fewer than 50% of people in most European countries believed the Iraq and Afghanistan interventions were worthwhile. Even last year's Libya Nato intervention, which was judged successful at the time, received very mixed support. |
| The survey found very little support for military action against Iran to halt its suspected nuclear programme. Only 7% of people in the EU preferred military action over all other options, and 34% preferred offering economic incentives to Tehran to abandon the programme. | The survey found very little support for military action against Iran to halt its suspected nuclear programme. Only 7% of people in the EU preferred military action over all other options, and 34% preferred offering economic incentives to Tehran to abandon the programme. |
| In the US, 32% preferred economic sanctions. American public support for the Obama administration's policy of helping the Iranian opposition fell sharply from 25% in 2010 to 10% in 2012, closely matching the European figure of 13%. | In the US, 32% preferred economic sanctions. American public support for the Obama administration's policy of helping the Iranian opposition fell sharply from 25% in 2010 to 10% in 2012, closely matching the European figure of 13%. |
| When respondents were given an either-or choice between accepting a nuclear-armed Iran or using military force to prevent it, opinion shifted significantly. In Europe, 46% said they would support military action, and in the US 57%. But resistance to an attack on Iran was high even in this scenario. In the UK 49% of people said they would prefer to accept a nuclear-armed Iran rather than go to war. | When respondents were given an either-or choice between accepting a nuclear-armed Iran or using military force to prevent it, opinion shifted significantly. In Europe, 46% said they would support military action, and in the US 57%. But resistance to an attack on Iran was high even in this scenario. In the UK 49% of people said they would prefer to accept a nuclear-armed Iran rather than go to war. |
| When those who said they would support military action against Iran were asked whether they also supported their own country's involvement, or the use of their country's ground troops, enthusiasm for an attack ebbed even further. | When those who said they would support military action against Iran were asked whether they also supported their own country's involvement, or the use of their country's ground troops, enthusiasm for an attack ebbed even further. |
| Large majorities on both sides of the Atlantic agreed with the proposition that the international community has a responsibility to protect civilians against violence by their own government. But this sentiment did not translate into strong support for western military intervention in Syria, the survey found. Roughly one in three respondents in the US, Europe and Turkey backed the idea of intervention in Syria. Majorities in Europe (59%), the US (55%) and Turkey (57%) said their countries should stay out of the conflict completely. | Large majorities on both sides of the Atlantic agreed with the proposition that the international community has a responsibility to protect civilians against violence by their own government. But this sentiment did not translate into strong support for western military intervention in Syria, the survey found. Roughly one in three respondents in the US, Europe and Turkey backed the idea of intervention in Syria. Majorities in Europe (59%), the US (55%) and Turkey (57%) said their countries should stay out of the conflict completely. |
| • The German Marshall Fund of the United States transatlantic trends survey interviewed people in the US, Russia and Turkey and 12 European countries in June this year. | • The German Marshall Fund of the United States transatlantic trends survey interviewed people in the US, Russia and Turkey and 12 European countries in June this year. |
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