Poll Watch: ABC News/Washington Post Survey on the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

ABC News/Washington Post Poll on Wars in Afghanistan & Iraq

All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war in Afghanistan has been worth fighting, or not?

• Worth fighting 39%
• Not worth fighting 56%

Among Democrats

• Worth fighting 34%
• Not worth fighting 61%

Among Republicans

• Worth fighting 55%
• Not worth fighting 39%

Among Independents

• Worth fighting 38%
• Not worth fighting 58%

All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war in Iraq was worth fighting, or not? 

• Worth fighting 38%
• Not worth fighting 58%

Among Democrats

• Worth fighting 27%
• Not worth fighting 68%

Among Republicans

• Worth fighting 57%
• Not worth fighting 38%

Among Independents

• Worth fighting 35%
• Not worth fighting 61%

Do you think the war in Afghanistan has or has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States?

• Contributed 51%
• Has not contributed 42%
  

Among Democrats

• Contributed 51%
• Has not contributed 42%
  

Among Republicans

• Contributed 63%
• Has not contributed 31%
  

Among Independents

• Contributed 47%
• Has not contributed 48%

Do you think the war in Iraq has or has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States?

• Contributed 46%
• Has not contributed 48%

Among Democrats

• Contributed 41%
• Has not contributed 54%

Among Republicans

• Contributed 61%
• Has not contributed 32%
  

Among Independents

• Contributed 42%
• Has not contributed 52%

Survey of 1,001 adults was conducted March 7-10, 2013. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID: 33% Democrat; 25% Republican; 35% Independent.

Inside the numbers: 

Just 21 percent say the war in Iraq contributed a great deal to long-term U.S. security; among them, 70 percent say the war was worth fighting. Among those say the war contributed “somewhat” to security, 59 percent say it was worth it. But among those who say it didn’t enhance U.S. security at all, a vast 83 percent say the Iraq war was not worth fighting. The breakdowns on Afghanistan are almost identical.