Support for Afghanistan War Hits New Low

Only 17% of Americans support the war in a new poll

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A mere 17% of Americans support the war in Afghanistan, according to a new poll, making it by one measure the most unpopular war in U.S. history.

The new low in support, in a CNN poll out Monday, comes after 52% of Americans supported the war in a 2008 CNN poll, and just 46% opposed it. By 2013, opposition had mushroomed to 82%, according to the poll. Though comparing public opinion across the decades is difficult, the support falls short of previous CNN polling on the Iraq War, and opposition to the Vietnam War next eclipsed 60% in Gallup polling.

The war in Afghanistan is the longest war in American history, at 12 years and counting. To date, over 2,300 American troops have died. A majority of Americans believe the U.S. is losing the war, with only about 33% saying America is winning.

While all remaining troops are scheduled to be pulled out of the country by December 2014, the majority of Americans want to withdraw before then. Also, despite a recent Washington Post article on a National Intelligence Estimate report that any gains made during the war in Afghanistan will likely be lost by 2017, only 25% of those polled want a continued U.S. presence after the late-2014 deadline.

The December survey of 1,035 adults nationwide has a sampling error of plus or minus 3%.

[CNN]