The war in Afghanistan could soon become a real test for the young Obama administration. The Taliban has posted a video online of a young Idaho solider captured there.
Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl shown here in a video made by his captors, members of the Taliban.
In the video - Bowe Bergdahl is prompted by his captors to beg for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, saying the U.S. is wasting time and lives there. The 23-year-old says he misses his friends and family and is scared he won't be able to go home.
The U.S. has condemned the video as a violation of international law.
Meanwhile - after eight years of war in Afghanistan - a new Gallup poll shows 36 percent of Americans say the U.S. involvement there was a mistake; compared to the 58 percent who say our involvement in Iraq was a mistake. 54 percent of those surveyed say things are going well for the U.S. in Afghanistan.
But public support may not last forever. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says U.S.-led forces must show progress there by next summer; otherwise the American people will believe the war has become un-winnable.
Gates says victory in Afghanistan is a "long-term prospect," and that after the Iraq experience, the American people won't have the stomach for a "long slog" in another conflict: "The troops are tired; the American people are pretty tired."
The U.S. recently sent an additional 21,000 troops to Afghanistan - after a year that saw a significant increase in extremist attacks against U.S. and NATO troops.
Here's my question to you: How committed are you to the United States continuing the war in Afghanistan?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Brett from Massachusetts writes:
The decision to invade Afghanistan and overthrow the Taliban was perhaps the best decision made by the Bush administration. The Taliban was and still is an official sponsor of terrorism and al Qaeda. We cannot afford to leave Afghanistan to their mercy and give the terrorists their own country to plan out attacks against America and other nations.
Kristoff writes:
We need to bring our troops home from all across the world. The reason extremist groups continue to attack us is because we are in their countries. I guarantee you if one day we woke up and the Chinese were setting up military bases and making their presence known in the U.S. we would respond with some extremist tactics of our own.
Julian from Boston writes:
I only wish the best for Bergdahl and his family. However, I don't think this should deter us from our goals in Afghanistan. The people of that country will remain trapped in poverty and violence as long as the Taliban can enforce its perverted version of Islamic law. Like it or not, we played a huge part in putting them in power and we must now make the commitment to end their oppressive rule.
Oakey from Indiana writes:
How committed? Zero nada, not at all. Revenge for 9-11 would have been getting Osama bin Laden and his gang of religious wackos, not using the attacks to justify a war for oil in Iraq. Engaging in yet another foreign war for the sake of "not losing" is just more of the same... Bring the troops home from Iraq. Bring the troops home from Afghanistan. Use the billions for health care here in the U.S. instead.
Larry writes:
I am truly puzzled as to why Obama chose to recommit to Afghanistan rather than pulling out altogether…It must be the Democrat weenie factor. The Republicans have dominated the propaganda war for so long, portraying themselves as the tough party that doesn't ever back down, and the Dems fall for that nonsense and feel compelled to act tough instead of doing the right thing! Get out of Iraq and Afghanistan now!