War on drugs is unpopular
Zogby 8 (Poll of politics, 10-2-9=8, http://stash.norml.org/zogby-poll-76-of-likely-voters-believe-war-on-drugs-is-failing , Zogby) ET
Three in four likely voters (76%) believe the U.S. war on drugs is failing, a sentiment that cuts across the political spectrum – including the vast majority of Democrats (86%), political independents (81%), and most Republicans (61%). There is also a strong belief that the anti-drug effort is failing among those who intend to vote for Barack Obama (89%) for president, as well as most supporters of John McCain (61%). When asked what they believe is the single best way to combat international drug trafficking and illicit use, 27% of likely voters said legalizing some drugs would be the best approach — 34% of Obama supporters and 20% of McCain backers agreed. One in four likely voters (25%) believe stopping the drugs at the border is the best tactic to battle drugs — 39% of McCain supporters, but just 12% of Obama backers agree. Overall, 19% of likely voters said reducing demand through treatment and education should be the top focus of the war on drugs. 13% believe that the best way to fight the war on drugs is to prevent production of narcotics in the country of origin.
The war on drugs is unpopular and brings a view of US instability- aff solves
Hallinan June 22nd (Conn, Foreign Policy in focus Columnist, June 22) ET
The U.S., on the other hand, has drawn widespread anger for its support of the Honduran government, expanding its military bases in Colombia, and its increasingly unpopular war on drugs. If much of the world concludes that regional powers like Turkey and Brazil are centers of stability, while the U.S. seems increasingly ham fisted or ineffectual, one can hardly blame them.
Public support for Afghanistan low
Fabian 10 (Jordan, writer for the Hill, 4/5, http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/90569-dem-congressman-public-support-for-afghan-war-is-very-weak)
A Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Monday that public support for the war in Afghanistan is on shaky ground. Rep. Bill Delahunt (Mass.) said that President Barack Obama might not stand to gain politically from sustaining a high level of combat forces there that are fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda. "Listening to other members as well as people in the district, I would say that the fiasco in Iraq really has colored public sentiment about what is happening in Afghanistan," he said on MSNBC. "Popular support in this country is very weak and very shaky." The retiring lawmaker's comments suggest that there is still some worry in Democratic circles about the president's decision to send 30,000 additional troops to the war-torn country late last year. The troops are supposed to draw down by the middle of 2011.
Afghanistan unpopular – Obama needs to withdraw fast.
Tisdall 10 (Simon, assistant editor of the Guardian, 6/15, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/cifamerica/2010/jun/15/obama-time-afghanistan-mcchrystal) PJ
But time is not on his side, given Obama's preset deadline of July 2011 for the start of troop withdrawals. The setbacks in the south have triggered concern that the overall strategy has lost momentum and is beginning to drift. Despite or perhaps because of the 30,000-strong surge in US forces, which are now almost all deployed, US and Nato casualties have risen alarmingly in recent weeks as the Taliban pushes back in the south. This autumn's mid-term congressional elections may increase political pressure to end an unpopular war.
Afghanistan losing support
Defense and Security News 9 (10/9, http://www.defencetalk.com/us-uk-public-support-for-afghan-war-declines-22487/) PJ
Opinion polls in the United States and Britain indicate that on the eighth anniversary of the start of the war in Afghanistan Wednesday, public support for the conflict is slipping. An Associated Press poll finds only 40 percent of Americans support the war, while in Britain, 56 percent of people surveyed in a BBC poll said they are against it. In Afghanistan, a Taliban statement marking the anniversary said the group never had any agenda to harm other countries, nor has it such an agenda today.
2AC AT: Politics - Afghanistan Popular
Most are confident in the war’s successful outcome
Agiesta and Cohen 09 (Jennifer and Jon, Washington Post writer, 7/20, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/19/AR2009081903066.html) PJ
A majority of Americans now see the war in Afghanistan as not worth fighting, and just a quarter say more U.S. troops should be sent to the country, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Most have confidence in the ability of the United States to meet its primary goals of defeating the Taliban, facilitating economic development, and molding an honest and effective Afghan government, but few say Thursday's elections there are likely to produce such a government.
Afghanistan war popular
Quinnipiac University Poll Institute 09 (12/8, http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1402) PJ
Public support for the war in Afghanistan is up nine percentage points in the last three weeks, as American voters say 57 - 35 percent that fighting the war is the right thing to do. Approval of President Barack Obama's handling of the war is up seven points in the same period, from a 38 - 49 percent negative November 18 to a 45 - 45 percent split, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. American voters approve 58 - 37 percent of President Obama's decision to send 30,000 more combat troops to the war-torn nation, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-per-ack) University poll finds. And voters approve 60 - 32 percent of the President's plan to begin withdrawing combat troops from Afghanistan in July 2011. But by a 45 - 40 percent margin, Americans do not believe he will be able to keep that promise.
America wants the war on drugs to end.
Healy 9 (Gene, a policy analyst for the Cato Institute, December 1, 2009, “Time to Wind Down the War on Drugs”, http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11019)KFC
It's hard out here for a libertarian in the Age of Obama. From bailout mania to the drive to nationalize health care, those of who want less federal involvement in American life have plenty to be depressed about. Is there any area in which it's not too audacious to hope for less intrusive government? Yes, thankfully: Today, more and more Americans are open to winding down our destructive war on drugs. In October, Gallup recorded its highest-ever level of public support for marijuana legalization, with 44 percent of Americans in favor. There's "a generational rift" on the issue, Gallup reports: A majority of voters under 50 back legalization. ur prohibitionist policies have filled America's jails to bursting, and made our streets less safe by funneling some $40 billion a year to organized crime
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