From Scott Wilson and Jon Cohen, the Washington Post:  Nearly two-thirds of Americans now say the war in Afghanistan is no longer worth fighting, the highest proportion yet opposed to the conflict

A new poll shows that "Afghans are more pessimistic about the direction of their country, less confident in the ability of the United States and its allies to provide security and more willing to negotiate with the Taliban than they were a year ago." At the same time, trends are positive in Helmand and Kandahar, the two provinces targeted by the surge.

The  results of the latest Pew-CFR quadrennial survey of public and elite attitudes on foreign policy are startling not only for the gap between public and elite attitudes on international security, but also for the types of concerns held by the average American. Simply, Americans feel scared, wary, and alone.

A recent ABC-BBC-ARD survey of Afghanistan has both given hopes to those who support NATO's mission in Afghanistan and created a backlash among doubters.

While the substance of President Obama's foreign policy is almost indistinguishable from that of President George W. Bush, the difference in style is undeniable.  And, if a new Pew poll is right, it very much matters.

Eighteen months before he was elected president, Barack Obama wrote in Foreign Affairs:

The American moment is not over, but it must be seized anew. To see American power in terminal decline is to ignore America's great promise and historic purpose in the world. If elected president, I will start renewing that promise and purpose the day I take office.

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AFP highlights a new poll showing support for the EU is flagging ahead of elections for the European Parliament.

Our most recent poll on efforts to "push the reset button" on relations with Russia shows substantially more optimism among Europeans than Americans.