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Even in red-as-heck Utah, President Barack Obama's promises to withdraw troops from Iraq and refocus the military on Afghanistan had a majority of Beehive state voters' support as the 44th president prepared to take office.
Less than a year later, Utahns are feeling far less optimistic about Obama's national security leadership, according to a Salt Lake Tribune poll of registered voters.
Just 42 percent of Utah voters say they are "very confident" or "somewhat confident" in Obama's policies to protect the country's national security and manage the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the poll.
That's a 20 percent drop from January, when a majority of Utah voters said they were confident of the president's war plans.
As promised, the president has presided over the first stages of a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, intended to be complete by the end of 2011.
But Obama has been deliberate in deciding what steps to take in Afghanistan, where an upsurge in violence has been met with a request for more troops by Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
He wants 40,000 additional military men and women, and a majority of Utahns believe that Obama should honor McChrystal's request, according to the Tribune poll.
Obama has not announced how he will respond. The Associated Press, citing administration sources, reported on Thursday that Obama won't accept any of the options before him without changes. That news comes
Ambassador Karl Eikenberry -- himself a former commander in Afghanistan -- has voiced strong dissent against sending more forces, according to the AP. Meanwhile, CBS News, citing "informed sources," said Obama will approve most of the troop increase McChrystal requested.
Given the uncertainty of the situation in Afghanistan, Utah voter LaVelle Sagg said Americans shouldn't rush to pass judgment on whether Obama has made effective and responsible decisions in the war-torn nation.
On balance, the 79-year-old Salt Lake City resident said, the president should follow McChrystal's advice and send more troops. "It is a difficult decision, I am sure," Sagg said. "But I would like to see him do what he thinks need to be done so that we can win."
Fellow Salt Lake City resident Scott Jensen also believes that it is too early to render a verdict on Obama's war leadership. And he doesn't agree with those who say Obama has not acted quickly or decisively in making a decision about what to do in Afghanistan.
That's unusual for Washington politicians, Jensen said. "I think it's a wise way to make a decision," Jensen said. "I wish a few more of them would take a little longer in making decisions about things."
Nonetheless, Jensen said he isn't confident Obama will make a decision he can support in Afghanistan. He would like to see an immediate withdrawal.
"I don't think it's a winnable war," he said. "I don't think we have any business there. I don't think it's in the interest of national security and, in fact, I think it's doing us more harm than good."
The Tribune's poll of 625 registered voters was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. from Nov. 9 through Nov. 11. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percent.
The same company conducted the January poll that showed Obama with greater support in regard to his plans for the wars he inherited when he took office.
About the poll
The Tribune's poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. from Nov. 9 through Nov. 11. A total of 625 registered voters were interviewed. Of the respondents:
49 percent were men and 51 percent were women.
52 percent identified themselves as Republican, 21 percent Democrat, and 27 percent independent or other party.
71 percent identified themselves as a member of the LDS Church, 15 percent as another religion, 12 percent as nonreligious, and 2 percent declined to say.
