Afghans more optimistic for future, survey shows

[Babur]

This is good news, but I don't know what this means in the long run for the War In Afghanistan.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Afghans more optimistic for future, survey shows




By Adam Mynott
BBC World Affairs Correspondent


Most Afghans are increasingly optimistic about the state of their country, a poll commissioned by the BBC, ABC News and Germany's ARD shows.
Of more than 1,500 Afghans questioned, 70% said they believed Afghanistan was going in the right direction - a big jump from 40% a year ago.
Of those questioned, 68% now back the presence of US troops in Afghanistan, compared with 63% a year ago.
For Nato troops, including UK forces, support has risen from 59% to 62%.
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Poll of Afghan opinion, 11-23 December 2009 [779 KB]

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The survey was conducted in all of the country's 34 provinces in December 2009.
In 2009 only 51% of those surveyed had expected improvement and 13% thought conditions would deteriorate.
But in the latest survey 71% said they were optimistic about the situation in 12 months' time, compared with 5% who said it would be worse.
Afghans seem more content with general living conditions

The other significant theme which emerges from the figures is growing antipathy towards the Taliban.
Ninety per cent said they wanted their country run by the current government, compared with 6% who said they favoured a Taliban administration.
Sixty-nine per cent believed the Taliban posed the biggest danger to the country, and 66% blamed the Taliban, al-Qaeda and foreign militants for violence in Afghanistan.


Most Afghans appeared positive about the presence of troops from Nato and other countries stationed in Afghanistan.
The survey also asked if people thought it was good or bad that US forces entered Afghanistan in 2001 to drive out the Taliban. Of those questioned, 83% said it was either very good or mostly good. This compares with 69% for 2009.
However, more of those questioned believe troops with the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) are now worse at avoiding civilian casualties (43% worse and 24% better).
The presence of US troops in Afghanistan is backed by the majority

There was some ambivalence about how long Isaf forces should remain in the country - 22% said they should leave within the next 18 months, and 21% said they should stay longer than 18 months from now.
Afghans appear more positive about their general living conditions and the availability of electricity, medical care and jobs compared with a year ago.
Insecurity and crime were slightly worse, they said, and freedom of movement slightly better.
Despite a presidential election last year mired in controversy over ballot rigging, 74% said they were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the outcome.
Also, 72% of Afghans rated President Hamid Karzai as excellent or good - compared with 52% 12 months ago - and 60% rated the performance of the present government as good or excellent, as opposed to 10% who thought it was poor.
One of the major issues facing Afghanistan is corruption among government officials or the police.
Of those surveyed, 95% identified it as a problem; 76% said it was a big problem and 19% said they considered it a moderate problem.


The survey was conducted by the Afghan Center for Socio-Economic and Opinion Research (Acsor) based in Kabul. Interviews were conducted in person, in Dari or Pashto, among a random national sample of 1,534 Afghan adults from 11-23 December 2009.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8448930.stm

[Poet]

yeah a survey in occupied Afghanistan, even if that would have been that 1:Should America leave Afghanistan right now? or 2:Should America stay here till doomsday? You could get result in favor of option 2 even.

[Babur]

yeah a survey in occupied Afghanistan, even if that would have been that 1:Should America leave Afghanistan right now? or 2:Should America stay here till doomsday? You could get result in favor of option 2 even.

that is quite a pathetic rebuke, I am tired of these double standards that the Taliban in Pakistan are your enemies but not the ones in Afghanistan.

I'm not convinced that the sample reflects the opinions of all or even most people. Probably more accurate to say 'urban Afghans more optimistic [etc]'.

And that's not so important, because cities are not the problem areas, so it probably means very little for the war, I would think.

of course, but if you were to poll Afghans in the rural areas I think it would be too dangerous imo.

[ivan_the_terrible]

of course, but if you were to poll Afghans in the rural areas I think it would be too dangerous imo.

Precisely. Even if it were possible to conduct a poll there, it's far more useful to know what tribal leaders think, and not regular people.

But this particular poll isn't terribly useful imo.

[Babur]

Precisely. Even if it were possible to conduct a poll there, it's far more useful to know what tribal leaders think, and not regular people.

But this particular poll isn't terribly useful imo.

it is those members of the jirgas who are crucial in the outcome of this war imo

It's a good start (Albeit in the middle of the war) at least

well in the urban areas,yeah.

[Pious Agnost]

His IP has been tracked before, he seems to be from Canada.

Moving on

well in the urban areas,yeah.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sorry Pontifex

[ivan_the_terrible]

I'm not convinced that the sample reflects the opinions of all or even most people. Probably more accurate to say 'urban Afghans more optimistic [etc]'.

And that's not so important, because cities are not the problem areas, so it probably means very little for the war, I would think.

[Pious Agnost]

It's a good start (Albeit in the middle of the war) at least

[green tea]

BBC may be somewhat more reliable than for example Fox. But I would like to hear that also from a more neutral source because, after all, the British forces are the main ally to the US in that war. I usually check news on different channels (Aljazeera for example to see what an independent muslim/arabic channel might say).

I would be glad if Afghanistan would find peace and become a stable state, but I fear that the people there hate the "christian" West too much to work together with them, even if it is for their own benefit.

[TheTrainee]

Nowhere to go but up.

[Poet]

Afghans are optimistic;

Girls are optimistic, that those who freed them from yoke of Taliban rule would now free them from rape and torture of war lords.

Boys are optimistic, that those trigger happy "liberators" who till yet behave with all young afghans like taliban would now start behaving like humans and would treat them like humans.

Kids are optimistic, that in a world of after war, in which people have lost what they already had because of liberators' invasion, now Americans would take care of them as they are now there responsibility.

Those who are going to be married are optimistic, that if they would be lucky enough and Americans would not hit them thinking a marriage ceremony as taliban's meeting, they would "enjoy" life together.

Old people are also optimistic, that if hunger has not been successful in getting them rid of their life Americans may do that.

Only ing god damned bastards are optimistic who just think and sign somewhere and our life is ruined.

[Babur]

Afghans are optimistic;

Girls are optimistic, that those who freed them from yoke of Taliban rule would now free them from rape and torture of war lords.

Boys are optimistic, that those trigger happy "liberators" who till yet behave with all young afghans like taliban would now start behaving like humans and would treat them like humans.

Kids are optimistic, that in a world of after war, in which people have lost what they already had because of liberators' invasion, now Americans would take care of them as they are now there responsibility.

Those who are going to be married are optimistic, that if they would be lucky enough and Americans would not hit them thinking a marriage ceremony as taliban's meeting, they would "enjoy" life together.

Old people are also optimistic, that if hunger has not been successful in getting them rid of their life Americans may do that.

Only ing god damned bastards are optimistic who just think and sign somewhere and our life is ruined.

well if the Taliban win in Afghanistan,then they can focus on Pakistan eh?

[Heinz Guderian]

You cant blame Pakistan for betting on the fact that the white man is going to leave (which is definately going to happen in the near future) and they need allies so they can concentrate on India. Its just national interest. National interest and morality often are mutually exclusive. Just look at US foreign policy.

[Babur]

You cant blame Pakistan for betting on the fact that the white man is going to leave (which is definately going to happen in the near future) and they need allies so they can concentrate on India. Its just national interest. National interest and morality often are mutually exclusive. Just look at US foreign policy.

and what if the Taliban are emboldended by victory in Afghanistan and turn on Pakistan to impose what they view to be their just rule?

[Heinz Guderian]

and what if the Taliban are emboldended by victory in Afghanistan and turn on Pakistan to impose what they view to be their just rule?

The Pakistanis will just do a deal with them. The Federal Areas have always been a law unto themselves and the Pashtun areas of Pakistan were and are already ruled by somewhat "Taliban" laws. Haqqani is the perfect personification of the relationship between the Pakistani military and the Taliban. If you look at it purely geo-political terms, i cant blame them for it.

[Babur]

The Pakistanis will just do a deal with them. The Federal Areas have always been a law unto themselves and the Pashtun areas of Pakistan were and are already ruled by somewhat "Taliban" laws. Haqqani is the perfect personification of the relationship between the Pakistani military and the Taliban. If you look at it purely geo-political terms, i cant blame them for it.

and then the deal will be broken like before? lol

[Heinz Guderian]

and then the deal will be broken like before? lol

It would be in the Taliban's interests to stick to deals. But the idea of the Taliban taking over Pakistan is a neo-cons wet dream. Its like saying Iran would use nuclear weapons on Israel for shiz and giggles. Its devoid of fact and reason.

[Gauvin]

Its just national interest. National interest and morality often are mutually exclusive. Just look at US foreign policy.

It seems the people most affected by U.S. foreign policy disagree with you. But, I'm not sure what you know less about; morality, or U.S. foreign policy.

[Heinz Guderian]

It seems the people most affected by U.S. foreign policy disagree with you. But, I'm not sure what you know less about; morality, or U.S. foreign policy.

An Indian living in Canada, i dont understand your affection for US foreign policy. Traditionally, India and Canada have divergent policies. I actually applaud India for its independent foreign policy. Perhaps you are making a play for a Green Card? If so, good luck sir

[Gauvin]

An Indian living in Canada, i dont understand your affection for US foreign policy. Traditionally, India and Canada have divergent policies.

As someone who appears to sympathize with jihadists, you must know that some people hold allegiance to ideas that transcend national borders. But, before I'm told I'm being unfair for that characterization, can you clarify for us; do you sympathize with jihadists?

Also, trying to guess my ethnicity won't help you much, really, so I don't understand the point of it. Saying I'm indian does more to show your own prejudice than the truth of my origins.