Something of a signal moment with the release of a new Washington Post/ABC News poll that shows for the first time more than half of Americans think that the Afghan war is not worth fighting.
The survey says that 51 percent of Americans think the war has not been worth fighting compared to 47 percent who do. Just a month ago, 51 percent supported the war and 45 percent opposed it .
In December, the same poll showed 55 percent thought the war was worth fighting and 39 percent did not.
In the latest poll, Republicans held steady around 70 percent supporting the war in both July and August. Democrats, meanwhile, turned against the war. They went from 41 percent in support to 27 percent in just a month.
What to make of the fact that support for the Afghanistan effort is lower under a Democratic president than a Republican one?
Obama’s escalation there has probably startled Democrats who believed they were electing a peace president.
What is challenging for the president here is to keep Republican support at these levels without alienating his base.
Unlike health care or global warming, quick pivots are not possible on a large war that is growing larger. Another change of direction in Afghanistan so soon after Obama announced his new approach would be disastrous for both foreign policy and his domestic agenda.
