A record 60% of Americans want to remove troops from Afghanistan as soon as possible, while just 32% of the country think we should keep troops there until the situation has stabilized, according to a new Pew Research poll. This is a massive drop since last May when the poll found 48% wanted to remove troops and 47% thought we should keep them there. From Pew:

Support for keeping U.S. forces in Afghanistan has declined over the past year among Republicans, Democrats and independents. For the first time in a Pew Research Center survey, as many Republicans (48%) favor removing U.S. forces from Afghanistan as soon as possible as support keeping the troops there until the situation is stabilized (45%).

As recently as a month ago, a majority of Republicans (53%) said they favored staying in Afghanistan until the situation stabilized, while 41% favored a troop withdrawal.

Currently, 66% of Democrats and 62% of independents say the U.S. should remove troops as soon as possible, while about three-in-ten (29%) in each group favors keeping forces in Afghanistan.

There is simply no reason to continue our absurdly expensive decade-long war in Afghanistan. Whether we stay an extra 6 months, 16 months, or 16 years the situation will not be stabilized. Our efforts are wasted trying to prop up a deeply corrupt central government that lacks popular respect. After a decade it is too late to think we can win hearts and minds with this occupation.

It appears the American people have finally come around to this conclusion, and it is time for our political leaders to follow suit. It is time to end the war now.