June 23, 2011
062311.01
Polls Show Americans Weary of Afghan Conflict
Jim Malone | Washington
When he ran for president in 2008, then candidate Barack Obama promid to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq, a war he oppod, and to strengthen the U.S. effort against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
In late 2009, the president announced he
was nding 30,000 additional troops to
Afghanistan, a move that was unpopular
with some members of his own
Democratic Party.
In the past two years, domestic support
for the war in Afghanistan has weakened considerably. A recent poll found that 64 percent of tho surveyed believe the Afghan war is no longer worth fighting. In late 2009, that number was 44 percent. Bipartisan opposition
Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich is a longtime opponent of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and of U.S. involvement in the NATO mission in Libya.
"Things are falling apart at home while we are arching the world looking for dragons to slay," said Kucinich.
98年世界杯主题曲In recent weeks, war fatigue over Afghanistan has also crept into the An Army carry team carries
deafenthe transfer cas containing the remains of Army Spc. Scott D. Smith of Indianapolis,
argentoIndiana upon arrival at Dover Air Force Ba, Delaware on June 21, 2011.
debate among the Republican presidential contenders for 2012, including the frontrunner, former Massachutts governor Mitt Romney.
"But I also think we have learned that our troops should not go off and try to fight a war of independence for another nation," noted Romney. "Only the Afghanis can win Afghanistan's independence from the Taliban."
Even the latest Republican to join the race, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, says the United States should be more aggressive in drawing down troop levels in Afghanistan. Huntsman spoke to NBC's Today program.
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"What we need now is a healthy do of nation-building here at home," said Huntsman. "Our core is weak. We need to focus on getting our own hou in order right here."
Shifting priorities
Quinnipiac University pollster Peter Brown says during a period of veral months national-opinion surveys have shown a growing level of war weariness among the American public.
"I do not think there is any doubt in Afghanistan, the involvement in Iraq and now the involvement in Libya has for many Americans raid questions about the wisdom of the policies," said Brown.
It is not just that Americans have tired of the Afghan conflict. They also e much more important priorities at home, especially reviving the U.S. economy, says expert Stephen Hess with the Brookings Institution.了不起的盖茨比插曲
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"A trio of wars is not exactly what Americans are interested in at this time when they have a very full platter of problems at home," said Hess.
Budget drain
Many Americans believe the war commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq are also a major budget drain on the U.S. government at a time when many Americans are struggling economically.
Political analysts say the U.S. commitment to the Afghan war could become an issue in next year's presidential campaign, especially for anti-war Democrats who are pressing for a speedier exit from Afghanistan.
Analyst Stuart Rothenberg spoke to VOA's Encounter program about the impact of Afghanistan on next year's U.S. presidential election.
"Are we going to have stable environments?" Rothenberg asked. "Are we going to have talk about terrorists being allowed to gather and train? So I think this is another huge problem for the president. The problem here is clearly on his left with the anti-war element of the Democratic Party thinking that the president has violated a promi and a reason why they supported him in the last election."
President Obama received a modest boost in the polls following the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. But that bump has largely dissipated as Americans refocus on the struggling domestic economy and a stubbornly high unemployment rate of 9.1 percent.
062311.02
Atlantis Crew 'Honored' to Be On Final Shuttle Mission
David Byrd | Washington
The crew, led by mission commander Christopher Ferguson, met journalists at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ferguson, a retired U.S. Navy Captain said he and his crewmates feel a special obligation to do well.
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"I think, and we have not talked about this, each of us feel extra burdened to make sure we put on the best possible face forward for the last go around of this, and the crew is very prepared," said Ferguson.
"We are going to go out and do a very fantastic job."
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Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and mission
specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex
Walheim will deliver spare parts and
supplies to the International Space
Station during their flight. Atlantis will
also test whether it is possible to
robotically refuel orbiting satellites
during its 12-day mission.
The shuttle will return with a failed ammonia pump module to help NASA better understand the failure mechanism and improve pump designs for future systems. Atlantis is scheduled to liftoff July 8 and Ferguson says he expects the final landing to be a poignant moment for
everyone involved with the shuttle program.many
"Like I said, when it is all over at the very end I think that is when the enormity of it is going to hit us," added Ferguson. "You know that last wheel stop call is going to be a little tough."
The mission is the last of the U.S. Space Shuttle program. During its 30-year-history the shuttle fleet - Columbia, Atlantis, Challenger , Discovery, and Endeavour - has logged more than 825 million
kilometers of space travel. The first shuttle, Enterpri, never flew in space.
Two of the shuttles - Challenger and Columbia - and their crews were lost. Challenger exploded during launch in January 1986. Columbia disintegrated just minutes before landing in February 2003.
throatNASA expects to start testing the shuttle's replacement, the Orion
spacecraft, with astronauts on board sometime in 2013. The crew of space shuttle Atlantis, from left: mission
specialist Rex Walhiem, mission specialist Sandy Magnus, pilot Doug Hurley and commander Chris Ferguson attend a news
conference at Pad 39A during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test at the
Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, June 22, 2011.
