Survey: Afghans overwhelmingly optimistic, despite violence

Associated Press ^ | 11-19-03 | PAUL HAVEN

[Oldeconomybuyer]

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghans in relatively stable areas of the country are overwhelmingly optimistic about the future of their nation, despite continued violence and political uncertainty, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Some 83 percent of the Afghans surveyed said they feel safer than they did three years ago, when the hard-line Taliban regime was in power. More than three-quarters of those questioned said Afghanistan will be safer still in another year.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

A year from now, a similar survey will be conducted in Iraq. The results will be released weeks before election day. The results will be similar. The day after the election, it will be clear to the most ardent leftwing whiner that the democrat party will be relegated to back-bench status for at least a generation.

Oldeconomy will say, "I told you so".

[2banana]

Just wait until the first "Hooters" opens up...

[McGavin999]

Can you imagine what it must be like to feel optimistic after 35 years of constant war? It must feel like heaven to these people.

[Aquinasfan]

I wonder if OBL considers this a success? Has the moron figured out that he's rolling back the influence of fanatical Mohammedanism in country after country? Maybe I shouldn't tell him.

[KriegerGeist]

There is still that rats nest where OBL & his cronies are hiding out where these 5th century Talibanis are giving him aid and comfort. I think some AC-130 Spectre gunships pickin & choosin targets and a few M.O.A.B.s dropped on their heads would do away with the Taliban once and for all. The trouble is the location is in the Pakis neighborhood and I'm not sure they would aprove.

[Rokke]

You are probably right, but everytime one of these survey's is released it is usually late at night and picked up by no one. And any article on Iraq has to contain the obligatory " xx number of U.S. soldiers have died since Mr. Bush declared an end to major combat operations."

[jocon307]

Old, this is an amazing post. I wonder how these Afghanis are following the loyla girga (sp? I'm not checking it!). Do they have radio? I'm a radio head, I'd love to learn more about new Afghan radio, if that medium brings the message.

I can't believe they are plagued by the horrid (Daily News) newspaper delivery trucks, and I doubt they have much TV, and computers. So I'm thinking radio. RADIO, RADIO, still the most powerful medium on the planet!

[Right_in_Virginia]

Some 83 percent of the Afghans surveyed said they feel safer than they did three years ago, when the hard-line Taliban regime was in power.

A "thank you US heroes" bump!

[finnman69]

bump

[Coop]

A "thank you US heroes" bump!

I second that!

[Coop]

And a bump

[InterceptPoint]

The results will be released weeks before election day.

But it won't rate as news to the NYT, LAT, WP, CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN. It will show up in the major rightwing media: Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, FreeRepublic.com and Fox News. That and a few million bucks of advocacy advertising will get the message out.

[Coop]

BTTT