On November 9th, The Asia Foundation released the findings "from the single-largest, most comprehensive public opinion poll ever conducted in Afghanistan."
The poll, "Afghanistan in 2006: A Survey of the Afghan People," reflects perceptions of democracy, security, poppy cultivation, and the 2005 parliamentary elections -- as well as attitudes towards governing institutions, the role of women and Islam in society, and the impact of media. It was conducted between June and August 2006 and consists of a random sample of 6,226 in-person interviews with Afghan men and women, 18 years of age and above, from different social, economic, and ethnic communities. Rural and urban areas in 32 of the 34 provinces were covered, with Uruzgan and Zabul -- representing approximately 1.1 percent and 1.2 percent of the population, respectively -- excluded due to extreme security conditions.
Check it out.
also . . .
CBC/CTV/Red Star/Hope and Bail/Taborette the Reporterette etc etc . . . Afghanistan, quaqmire, quagmire, failure, quagmire, failure
blah, blah, blah. Crisis and claims of chaos sells newspaper and TV advertisng slots. The truth be damned.
Now, how about some truth.
http://www.snappingturtle.net/ fl..._13.html#005991
Highlights:
*80% of the population has access to basic health care, up from less than 10% in 2002;
*$11 million a month into development projects selected by elected Afghan village development councils: 7,500 projects completed so far;
*6 million Afghan children in school, up from 1 million in 2001, of which 2.2 million are girls, the highest number of girls receiving education in Afghan history (NB: but still only a third of the potential total, according to HRW);
*individual income figures 70% higher than in 2001;
*greater than 10% annualized economic growth for the last five years;
*1,000 schools opened in 2006 alone;
*45,000 trained teachers, including 15,000 women.
Thanks for the comments and data, Fred. What the Asia Foundation Study seems to emphasize - and I didn't read all its over 100 pages - was the importance of security to the Afghan people. WIth security comes economic growth. The 'plus' developments such as women's rights, democracy, free speech - are only possible with security, and economic growth. That's why NATO, and Canada, are there.
But Fred and ET aren't you embarrassed by Canada's imperialism?
Just kidding! Thanks for the good work.
How dare Canada step up and carry the load..how dare those maple addled Luddites stop the inertia and inaction..how dare they ruin the chances of young parasitic leftist to keep the perpetual turmoil machine in action...
wail!
gnash!
rinse repeat.....
"A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality."
John F. Kennedy
If less Afghans now believe 'the country is headed in the right direction' than before - it's probably because they get CNN now.... :)
Still, 44% is a good number.