Toronto’s Globe and Mail reports today on public opinion inside Afghanistan. The numbers are pretty remarkable: 59 percent “believe President Hamid Karzai represents their interests,” 84 percent have “a lot” or some confidence in the national army, and most significant I think, “64 per cent of respondents said they believe the foreigners have made a lot of progress or some progress in the fight against the Taliban.” We hear from the generals that things are going pretty well in Afghanistan. Casualties are up, but still relatively light compared to Iraq–fewer than 100 Americans killed so far this year, and many of those from “non-hostile” causes–but there is also a sense that little progress is being made. But if 64 percent of Afghans say it’s so, I don’t see any reason to doubt their conclusion. Also, as antiwar movements gain strength in Canada, Germany, Holland, this survey will help undercut arguments that the mission lacks popular support, or moral legitimacy:
Still, it wasn’t all good news for the Canadians:
That’s a shame, because the Canadians are going a bang-up job by all accounts. HT Instapundit
