Poll: Support for Afghan war hits new low

WASHINGTON -- Support for the war in Afghanistan has reached a new low, with only 27 percent of Americans saying they back the effort, and about half of those who oppose the war saying the continued presence of American troops in Afghanistan is doing more harm than good, according to an AP-GfK poll.

In results released yesterday, 66 percent opposed the war, with 40 percent saying they were "strongly" opposed. A year ago, 37 percent favored the war, and in the spring of 2010, support was at 46 percent. Eight percent strongly supported the war in the new poll.

Far fewer people than last year believe the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. troops increased the threat of terrorism against Americans, the poll found. Overall, 27 percent say the al-Qaida leader's death resulted in an increased terror threat, 31 percent believe his death decreased the threat of terrorism, and 38 percent say it has had no effect. The poll was conducted before the revelation of a recent al-Qaida plot to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner with an underwear bomb.

Yet nearly half, 48 percent, said the continued presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is doing more to help Afghanistan become a stable democracy, while 36 percent said the opposite, and 14 percent said they didn't know.

Among those opposed to the war, 49 percent say U.S. troops are hurting more than helping. Three-quarters of those who favor the war think they are doing more to help.

The poll was conducted May 3-7 by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications. It involved phone interviews with 1,004 adults nationwide and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.