So this big new Afghanistan poll? Check out what I found in the crosstabs:

A narrow majority of 51 percent to 47 percent said the war was not worth fighting. Even so, President Obama has a deeper pocket of support on the issue than that finding might suggest: 60 percent of Americans support how he’s handling the war, even as he’s escalated it once this year and may do so a second time.

The public more decisively rejects that idea, however. A plurality of 45 percent support decreasing troop levels, with 24 percent favoring an increase and 27 percent wanting to keep levels where they are. That’s a big flip from January, when a plurality of 34 percent favored the troop increase that Obama promised during the campaign. A possible explanation: despite the onslaught of bad news — both U.S. troop deaths and civilian casualties are up over last year — 42 percent believe the United States is winning in Afghanistan, and may therefore support a gradual decrease in troop levels as a dividend. Similarly, a surprising 59 percent believe the United States can beat the Taliban; 61 percent think the U.S. can “provide effective economic development”; and 55 percent think the United States can “encourage the creation of an honest and effective government.”

 I didn’t expect that shit. Americans are an optimistic people. I guess? I’m entertaining all theories at this point.