See if you can guess which question the American-sponsored poll DIDN'T ASK (answer at end).
But the government DOESN'T CARE what Americans think, huh?
Pfffffffttttt!
"Afghan Security Concerns Rise With Strife, Poll Finds" by KIRK SEMPLE
KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 22 — In a 12-month period during which the Taliban insurgency spread in Afghanistan and violence rose in the country’s major cities, Afghans grew increasingly concerned about security and more people came to regard it as the most serious issue facing the nation, according to the results of a poll set for release on Tuesday.
About a third of the poll’s respondents said security issues, including terrorism and violence, were the single biggest problem in Afghanistan, a significant increase from a similar poll last year, in which only 22 percent gave top priority to security concerns.
The authors of the poll wrote:
“Insecurity is the main reason for the people to believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction. In the eyes of men and women of Afghanistan, the security situation in the country has deteriorated.”
[Might have something to do with the 75 air raids a day, maybe?]
But the survey, financed by the United States, found that, over all, Afghans have about the same view of their country’s path as they did last year.
[Bush even has money for this, too, huh?
Bet he won't listen to the poll, though.
Pfffffttttt!]
Forty-two percent of respondents said the country was moving in the right direction, compared with 44 percent last year, according to the Asia Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, which conducted both surveys. With a margin of sampling error of plus or minus two percentage points, the change is not considered significant.
Twenty-four percent said the country was headed in the wrong direction this year, compared with 21 percent in 2006.
The poll was financed by the United States Agency for International Development and conducted by a team of Afghans, who interviewed more than 6,200 people in June in rural and urban areas in all of Afghanistan’s provinces. The main goal was to gauge public sentiments on social and political issues, “in a country that is undergoing rapid changes,” the authors said.
[To what end?
Like the administration is going to listen to the opinions of "terrorists?"]
In addition to security issues, respondents listed unemployment, the poor economy and corruption as major concerns.
[But not the airstrikes, huh?]
A majority of those interviewed — 57 percent — said national corruption had worsened in the past year, but fewer than half said it had worsened at the provincial and local levels. Nevertheless, 60 percent said corruption remained a major problem at the provincial level.
[That's Bush's "liberation," isn't it? LOOTING and STEALING!]
The poll said development-related issues remained the biggest local problems, with respondents citing, in order of importance, electricity, unemployment, water, education and roads.
The only exception to those priorities was in the southwestern provinces, where the Taliban insurgency has been most active and security was regarded as the biggest local problem.
Of those who said Afghanistan was headed in the right direction, 39 percent said reconstruction was the biggest factor and 34 percent cited good security.
About 25 percent of those surveyed said the government was doing a “very good” job and 55 percent said it was doing a “somewhat good” job.
[Hey, the Afghanis and us BOTH feel the same about our governments!!!
I LOVE the Afghan people!]
The survey also found evidence to suggest that the ideas of political tolerance and freedom of expression were not yet firmly rooted in Afghan society. A large proportion of respondents said Afghans did not feel free to express their political opinions in the area where they live, and 69 percent agreed it was not acceptable to speak critically about the government in public.
[Wow!!! Afghanistan is JUST LIKE AMERICA!!
Except for the standard of living and the U.S. air raids!]
The survey showed confidence in some national institutions, including the security forces, the news media, tribal and provincial councils, aid groups and some government entities. But fewer than half of the respondents expressed confidence in the government’s justice system, political parties and local militias.
The poll showed mixed feelings about the empowerment of women. About 53 percent of the respondents said they “strongly agreed” that women should have equal rights, while 32 percent “somewhat agreed.”
A majority of men and women agreed that women should be allowed to work outside the home, but a majority of men and women also agreed that women should wear a burqa in public.
[Yeah, and READ THIS to put that propaganda in place, O.K., reader?]
Respondents expressed respect for religion. About 66 percent said they believed democracy could be Islamic, while 29 percent said democracy challenged Islamic values."
[Wow! That's a REAL SURPRISE in an Islamic country, huh?
Pffffttttt!
And the question not asked:
"How do you feel about the American's dropping air bombs on your villages, relatives, and friends?"
Surprised they didn't ask that one, readers?
