Meanwhile, polls throughout 2009 show a U.S. public divided on whether the war is even worth fighting, let alone in need of escalation. In three surveys since July, the AP/GfK poll has reported that at least 53 percent of respondents say they oppose the Afghanistan War (PollingReport.com). In September, 51 percent told the Washington Post/ABC News poll (9/10-12/09) that the war was not "worth fighting"; only 46 percent said it was.

So where's the wide-ranging Afghanistan War debate in the media?

The need for broad public debate over Afghanistan was echoed in September by Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Adm. Mike Mullen. Citing popular opposition to the war, Mullen called for a broad debate to take a "hard look" at the policy. "I've seen the public opinion polls saying that a majority of Americans don't support the effort at all," Mullen told an American Legion convention in Louisville, Ky (Washington Post, 8/26/09). "I say, good. Let's have that debate, let's have that discussion."