Slim majority wants Canada's Afghan troops brought home: poll

troung · 07-31-2006, 00:43 AM

Slim majority wants Canada's Afghan troops brought home: poll
Mike De Souza
CanWest News Service

Saturday, July 29, 2006

OTTAWA -- Public support for Canada's military mission in Afghanistan has plummeted into minority territory for the first time in months, with a slim majority of Canadians now believing the troops should be brought home as soon as possible, a new poll has revealed.

The Ipsos Reid survey for CanWest News Service and Global National conducted by phone from July 25 to July 27 found that support for the "use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan" has dropped 10 points to 47 per cent from 57 since the last survey in May.

The escalation in casualties and the negative portrayal by the media of the mission as a war are among the factors causing the shift in public opinion, explained John Wright, senior vice-president at Ipsos Reid.

"A lot of this is really about the story of Afghanistan," Wright said. "What we receive and what we see are dangerous missions with combat and we do not see the other side of the story. I think many Canadians will question our continued participation if we're simply there as a military force as opposed to some kind of humanitarian role building a country."

Within the 47 per cent support, 17 per cent said they strongly supported the mission and 30 per cent said they somewhat supported the mission. On the other side, 18 per cent said they were somewhat opposed and 30 per cent said they were strongly opposed. Four per cent said they didn't know or refused to answer.

On a separate question, 52 per cent of respondents said they felt the "troops should not be deployed in Afghanistan and should be brought home as soon as possible," compared with only 41 per cent who felt the troops should continue their mission for as long as it takes to succeed.

The polling results come as the military begins a new rotation to replace its 2,300 troops who have been in Afghanistan over the past six months. Soldiers from the Royal Canadian Regiment will make up the bulk of the replacements for the troops, who are mostly from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

While the lowest support for the mission remains in Quebec at 35 per cent, the biggest changes in public opinion occurred in Atlantic Canada down to 44 per cent support from 69 per cent in May, in B.C. down to 42 per cent support from 60, and Ontario down to 52 per cent support from 63.

The strongest backing of the mission remains in Alberta at 65 per cent, where support has dropped by five percentage points since May.

Two-thirds of Quebec residents (66 per cent) feel the troops should be brought home as soon as possible, followed by 57 per cent in Atlantic Canada and 55 per cent in B.C.

"From a political perspective, it's clear that those people in Quebec, the place (Prime Minister Stephen Harper) needs for the next election campaign, disagree with him the most and want the troops home the quickest," said Wright.

The House of Commons voted 149-145 in May to extend the current mission by two years to 2009.

The Ipsos-Reid survey of 1,000 adult Canadians is considered accurate within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

mdesouza@cns.canwest.com
Source: www.canada.com . . .

Canmoore · 07-31-2006, 10:31 AM

Ignorant bastards...seems most of my fellow Canucks have forgotten what happened on the 11th day of the 9th month, of the 1st year of the 21th century.

**Officer of Engineers** · 07-31-2006, 10:34 AM

Calm down. This is normal. This is expected. People are shocked at the bleeding. We're still there. The leadership has not faltered.

Canmoore · 07-31-2006, 23:03 PM

well when i get into the military....taking forever btw....i want to go to afghanistan, i want to do my part for a better future for my fellow canucks, and to spread freedom to an area that has seen way to much war.

Funny, when the whole U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan first started way back in 2002, i was just finishing up my O.A.C.'s (grade 13 for you none canuckers)
Then I mucked around with bricklaying, college for two years, then working on my own for the past two years, the whole while that war has seemed so far away, now 4 years later, i cant wait to get into that same war! kinda werid huh!

BenRoethig · 08-20-2006, 16:16 PM

Advertise that the islamist want to take away their government benefits and see how quickly that changes.

troung · 10-03-2006, 00:38 AM

Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Afghanistan a Lost Cause for Canadians
October 2, 2006
- Canadians adults remain concerned about their country’s participation in the war on terrorism, according to a poll by Decima Research released by the Canadian Press. 59 per cent of respondents believe Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan are dying for a cause that cannot be won.

Afghanistan has been the main battleground in the war on terrorism. The conflict began in October 2001, after the Taliban regime refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people.

In March, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper travelled to Afghanistan—his first official trip as head of government. Harper dismissed any changes to the mission.

At least 480 soldiers—including 37 Canadians—have died in the war on terrorism, either in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Last month, former prime minister Paul Martin criticized the way Harper has conducted Canada’s participation in Afghanistan. Harper defended his rationale, saying, "When you make those kinds of decisions as a prime minister you have to be able to take responsibility for them and stick with them. The fact that Mr. Martin is unable to do that illustrates why he is no longer prime minister."

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? - Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan are dying for a cause we cannot win.

Agree
59%

Disagree
34%

Not sure
7%

Source: Decima Research / Canadian Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,038 Canadian adults, conducted from Sept. 8 to Sept. 18, 2006. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/inde...m/itemID/13344

BenRoethig · 10-03-2006, 08:19 AM

I don't know what is the more powerful threat these days, the terrorists or complacency.

Canmoore · 10-06-2006, 16:16 PM

There is a new poll out today which states that 57% of canadians support the mission..

I dont put to much faith in polls, all a pollster has to do is word the questions a certain way and you can manipulate the outcome.

07-31-2006, 00:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
troung A Self Important *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 08-03-03 Posts: 4,236 Country:	Slim majority wants Canada's Afghan troops brought home: poll Slim majority wants Canada's Afghan troops brought home: poll Mike De Souza CanWest News Service Saturday, July 29, 2006 OTTAWA -- Public support for Canada's military mission in Afghanistan has plummeted into minority territory for the first time in months, with a slim majority of Canadians now believing the troops should be brought home as soon as possible, a new poll has revealed. The Ipsos Reid survey for CanWest News Service and Global National conducted by phone from July 25 to July 27 found that support for the "use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan" has dropped 10 points to 47 per cent from 57 since the last survey in May. The escalation in casualties and the negative portrayal by the media of the mission as a war are among the factors causing the shift in public opinion, explained John Wright, senior vice-president at Ipsos Reid. "A lot of this is really about the story of Afghanistan," Wright said. "What we receive and what we see are dangerous missions with combat and we do not see the other side of the story. I think many Canadians will question our continued participation if we're simply there as a military force as opposed to some kind of humanitarian role building a country." Within the 47 per cent support, 17 per cent said they strongly supported the mission and 30 per cent said they somewhat supported the mission. On the other side, 18 per cent said they were somewhat opposed and 30 per cent said they were strongly opposed. Four per cent said they didn't know or refused to answer. On a separate question, 52 per cent of respondents said they felt the "troops should not be deployed in Afghanistan and should be brought home as soon as possible," compared with only 41 per cent who felt the troops should continue their mission for as long as it takes to succeed. The polling results come as the military begins a new rotation to replace its 2,300 troops who have been in Afghanistan over the past six months. Soldiers from the Royal Canadian Regiment will make up the bulk of the replacements for the troops, who are mostly from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. While the lowest support for the mission remains in Quebec at 35 per cent, the biggest changes in public opinion occurred in Atlantic Canada down to 44 per cent support from 69 per cent in May, in B.C. down to 42 per cent support from 60, and Ontario down to 52 per cent support from 63. The strongest backing of the mission remains in Alberta at 65 per cent, where support has dropped by five percentage points since May. Two-thirds of Quebec residents (66 per cent) feel the troops should be brought home as soon as possible, followed by 57 per cent in Atlantic Canada and 55 per cent in B.C. "From a political perspective, it's clear that those people in Quebec, the place (Prime Minister Stephen Harper) needs for the next election campaign, disagree with him the most and want the troops home the quickest," said Wright. The House of Commons voted 149-145 in May to extend the current mission by two years to 2009. The Ipsos-Reid survey of 1,000 adult Canadians is considered accurate within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. mdesouza@cns.canwest.com Source: www.canada.com . . . __________________ To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

07-31-2006, 10:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
Officer of Engineers *Military Professional* Moderator Scotch taster Join Date: 08-06-03 Posts: 15,915 Country:	Calm down. This is normal. This is expected. People are shocked at the bleeding. We're still there. The leadership has not faltered. __________________ Chimo

08-20-2006, 16:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
BenRoethig *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-03-04 Location: Dubuque, IA Posts: 1,047 Country:	Advertise that the islamist want to take away their government benefits and see how quickly that changes. __________________ F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: The Honda Accord of fighters.

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07-31-2006, 10:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
Canmoore *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 05-18-06 Location: Canada Posts: 1,331 Country:	Ignorant bastards...seems most of my fellow Canucks have forgotten what happened on the 11th day of the 9th month, of the 1st year of the 21th century.

07-31-2006, 23:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Canmoore *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 05-18-06 Location: Canada Posts: 1,331 Country:	well when i get into the military....taking forever btw....i want to go to afghanistan, i want to do my part for a better future for my fellow canucks, and to spread freedom to an area that has seen way to much war. Funny, when the whole U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan first started way back in 2002, i was just finishing up my O.A.C.'s (grade 13 for you none canuckers) Then I mucked around with bricklaying, college for two years, then working on my own for the past two years, the whole while that war has seemed so far away, now 4 years later, i cant wait to get into that same war! kinda werid huh!

10-03-2006, 00:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
troung A Self Important *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 08-03-03 Posts: 4,236 Country:	Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research Afghanistan a Lost Cause for Canadians October 2, 2006 - Canadians adults remain concerned about their country’s participation in the war on terrorism, according to a poll by Decima Research released by the Canadian Press. 59 per cent of respondents believe Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan are dying for a cause that cannot be won. Afghanistan has been the main battleground in the war on terrorism. The conflict began in October 2001, after the Taliban regime refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people. In March, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper travelled to Afghanistan—his first official trip as head of government. Harper dismissed any changes to the mission. At least 480 soldiers—including 37 Canadians—have died in the war on terrorism, either in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Last month, former prime minister Paul Martin criticized the way Harper has conducted Canada’s participation in Afghanistan. Harper defended his rationale, saying, "When you make those kinds of decisions as a prime minister you have to be able to take responsibility for them and stick with them. The fact that Mr. Martin is unable to do that illustrates why he is no longer prime minister." Polling Data Do you agree or disagree with this statement? - Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan are dying for a cause we cannot win. Agree 59% Disagree 34% Not sure 7% Source: Decima Research / Canadian Press Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,038 Canadian adults, conducted from Sept. 8 to Sept. 18, 2006. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent. http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/inde...m/itemID/13344

10-03-2006, 08:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
BenRoethig *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-03-04 Location: Dubuque, IA Posts: 1,047 Country:	I don't know what is the more powerful threat these days, the terrorists or complacency.

10-06-2006, 16:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Canmoore *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 05-18-06 Location: Canada Posts: 1,331 Country:	There is a new poll out today which states that 57% of canadians support the mission.. I dont put to much faith in polls, all a pollster has to do is word the questions a certain way and you can manipulate the outcome.

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