An overwhelming number of voters believe the United States is involved in too many foreign conflicts and should pull back its troops, according to a new poll conducted for The Hill.Seventy-two percent of those polled said the United States is fighting in too many places, with only 16 percent saying the current level of engagement represented an appropriate level. Twelve percent said they weren't sure.
Voters also do not think having U.S. soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq has made the country safer, according to the poll.
Thirty-seven percent said the continued presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan makes no impact on national security, while another 17 percent said it makes the United States less safe. By contrast, 36 percent said the United States is safer because forces are in Afghanistan.
The findings reflect a fatigue with war after a decade dominated by U.S. invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan that are now unwinding. War fatigue was also highlighted by House votes last month on Afghanistan in which more Republicans than ever before supported withdrawing U.S. troops immediately.
Not surprising and I saw this predicted here and on other blog sites. America will become more isolationist as it is broke and tired of a decade of constant war. A "fix our own home first" attitude is starting to take hold.
I think that's right. The real issue is where in this world does the U.S. need to be, and how do we help those who will help themselves to be free? It's in the long-term interest of the U.S. to promote freedom and personal liberty, but I'm a neo-con. We can't do everything but we can't retreat into our shell, either. The next president has to make clear what his/her ideas are in striking the right balance.