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Poll suggests public want troops out of Afghanistan
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A poll for Â鶹Éç Radio 4 has found that more than two-thirds of those questioned believe UK troops should be withdrawn from Afghanistan in the next year.
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Earlier this week both Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Defence Secretary John Hutton reaffirmed the UK's long term military commitment to Afghanistan.
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Gordon Brown has said that if, as is expected, US President-elect Barack Obama wants to increase the international military presence in Afghanistan, Britain would consider sending more troops.
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Radio 4 commissioned the poll ahead of a debate, In Afghanistan: Should We Bring Home the Troops?, to be broadcast tonight at 8.00pm (Thursday 13 November).
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ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,013 adults, by telephone between 31 October and 2 November, asking them "Do you think that Britain should or should not withdraw its troops from Afghanistan within the next 12 months?"
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Sixty-eight per cent responded "should" withdraw, 24% "should not" and 8% said don't know.
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In Afghanistan: Should We Bring Home the Troops? was recorded at Chatham House, London, on Wednesday 5ÌýNovember.
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Speakers include: Ahmed Rashid, journalist and author of Descent Into Chaos; Rory Stewart, writer and head of Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Kabul; Simon Jenkins, Sunday Times columnist; Chris Alexander, UN special envoy in Kabul (UNAMA); Farid Khan Popal, Embassy of Afghanistan, London; and Colonel Stuart Tootal, former Commander of 3 Para in Helmand Province.
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The debate covers the impact that Barack Obama's election might have in the situation, whether or not it is time to talk to the Taleban with a view to negotiating a truce, whether Britain's security is more threatened by our presence in Afghanistan than it would be if we left, whether it is winnable and whether Britain has any moral obligation to stay.
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The debate is chaired by Eddie Mair.
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In Afghanistan: Should We Bring Home The Troops?, Â鶹ÉçÌýRadioÌý4, Thursday 13 November 2008, 8.00-9.00pm.
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PR
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