Can 'good war' in Afghanistan survive bad headlines?

By Paul Eckert, Asia Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Afghanistan's presidential election amid a U.S. troop buildup and surging Taliban violence brings pressure on Washington to show results in a war the president has made the centerpiece of his foreign policy.

The Aug. 20 presidential vote comes after the deployment of some 30,000 extra U.S. troops that has raised the level of American forces to 62,000. Combat deaths are rising and polls show a softening of public backing for the eight-year war.

President Barack Obama, by following up on his campaign vow to wind down the unpopular Iraq war and shift resources to the older campaign in Afghanistan, has drawn fresh public attention back to that country -- increasing pressure to show progress.

"We all feel the impatience and pressure of the American public and the Congress, which legitimately wants to see progress," Said Richard Holbrooke, U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Asked to define success in that campaign, he said: "In the simplest sense ... we'll know it when we see it."

"They (the Obama administrations) haven't fully developed exactly how they are going to demonstrate to the American people and Congress that they're using the money and resources effectively to achieve progress," said Brian Katulis of the Center for American Progress, a liberal Washington think tank.

Impatience is rising, polls are starting to indicate.

In the first major survey after a record 44 U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan in July, a CNN/Opinion Research Corp poll showed popular support for the war at an historic low, with 54 percent opposed to the war and 41 percent in favor.