First, it was the damn Iraqis who didn’t appreciate all our sacrifices to bring them freedom, liberty, democracy and all manner of good things. Who didn’t appreciate all our sacrifices, and weren’t shy about saying so. This bloody ingratitude much puzzled our otherwise much-loved former president.
Now, the Afghans are following in the Iraqis’ footsteps.
The United States, its NATO allies and the government of Hamid Karzai are losing not just ground in Afghanistan – but also the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.
A new national public opinion poll in Afghanistan by ABC News, the BBC and ARD German TV finds that performance ratings and support levels for the Kabul government and its Western allies have plummeted from their peaks, particularly in the past year. Widespread strife, a resurgent Taliban, struggling development, soaring corruption and broad complaints about food, fuel, power and prices all play a role.
In 2005, … 83 percent of Afghans expressed a favorable opinion of the United States – unheard of in a Muslim nation. Today just 47 percent still hold that view…. For the first time slightly more Afghans now see the United States unfavorably than favorably.
The number who say the United States has performed well in Afghanistan has been more than halved, from 68 percent in 2005 to 32 percent now. … And 25 percent now say attacks on U.S. or NATO/ISAF forces can be justified, double the level, 13 percent, in 2006.
The favorability rating of the U.S. dropped 9 points in 12 months from October 2005 to October 2006, another 9 points in 13 months from October 2006 to November 2007, and then 18 points in 15 months from November 2007 to now. I believe that’s called decreasing at an increasing rate.
It’s not just disenchantment with past policies, either:
Nor does the election of Barack Obama hold much promise in the eyes of the Afghan public: While two in 10 think he’ll make things better for their country, nearly as many think he’ll make things worse.
Let’s see what our much-loved current president makes of this.