Rachel Maddow: Latest Poll A Sign Of Afghan Optimism

[Turborama]

Run time: 02:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFET3bsFyRU   Posted on YouTube: January 13, 2010 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: January 13, 2010 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 555

 

Poll shows more optimism in Afghanistan

Afghans are far more optimistic about their future than they were a year ago and support the presence of US troops in their country, according to a http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_01_10_afghanpoll.pdf">poll released yesterday.

Some 70 per cent of Afghans think their country is “going in the right direction”, compared with 40 per cent a year earlier – the highest figure since 2005, according to the survey for the BBC, ABC news and ARD of Germany.

Of those polled, 68 per cent support the presence of US troops in the country and slightly fewer – 62 per cent – support the presence of British and other troops.

Despite claims to represent the Afghan people, the Taleban won little support: 69 per cent of Afghans said they presented the greatest danger to the country’s future.

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"The Afghan Centre for Socio-Economic and Opinion Research spoke to 1,534 Afghans in all 34 provinces in December for the poll, which has been carried out every year since 2005 apart from 2008."

From: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6984257.ece

The results of the poll carried out by D3 last year.

Where Things Stand: Afghanistan in Turmoil

By MARTHA RADDATZ, RICHARD COOLIDGE, AUDREY TAYLOR and THERESA COOK
Feb. 9, 2009.

Despite seven years of fighting, the lives of more than 600 U.S. servicemen and women, and billions of dollars in aid, Afghan opinions of the United States and their own government have dramatically deteriorated, according to the latest ABC News polling.

In 2005, with liberation from the Taliban still fresh, 83 percent of Afghans had a favorable view of the United States. Today, with widespread violence and staggeringly slow redevelopment, it has plunged to 47 percent.

Asked whether their country is moving in the right direction, only 40 percent say yes, compared to 77 percent four years ago.

The results are from an exclusive national survey produced by ABC News, the BBC and ARD German TV. Pollsters interviewed more than 1,500 Afghans in all 34 of the country's provinces.

From the back alleys of Kandahar to the mountains of the Hindu Kush to the streets of Kabul, Afghan pollsters have seen profound pessimism across the country.

Full article: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/International/Story?id=6822139&page=1

Links to other articles about the 2009 poll http://www.d3systems.com/public/news.asp">here & http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4219906&mesg_id=4222747">here.


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