Afghan Foreign Minister Says ‘The Majority Of Afghans Still Support’ International Troop Presence
Afghan Foreign Minister Says ‘The Majority Of Afghans Still Support’ International Troop Presence
A recent ABC/BBC/ARD poll released earlier this month found that Afghans’ support of U.S. and NATO forces’ efforts in that nation is tumbling. Just 47 percent said they had a favorable view of the United States, down from 83 percent in 2005. Only 37 percent said that most people in their area support NATO and the International Security Assistance Force; 67 percent supported ISAF in 2006.
Today, ThinkProgress interviewed Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta. We asked him about the poll’s grim findings and how NATO and the Afghan government “can win back the hearts and minds of the Afghan civilians.” Spanta disputed the poll’s results, claiming that a majority of Afghans still support the U.S.-led international coalition:
SPANTA: Now, this is the opinion to places that you ask the people, the ordinary Afghans, the majority of all the Afghans still support the presence of the international community because they believe that the international community came to Afghanistan after two and a half decades of tyranny in my country…and the international community brought us liberation. This is still the perception of the people of Afghanistan
Watch it:
Spanta later said that Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Gen. David McKiernan, top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, have agreed that Afghan forces will be more “involved” in the “preparation [and] implantation of military action on operations,” including “arresting Afghans in house searching” to ensure more respect for the culture of Afghans.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has suggested recently that the U.S. lower expectations for its mission in Afghanistan by “setting standards far below the sweeping desires of regional democratization that were a foundation of Bush administration national security policy.” Spencer Ackerman notes that, during a later event hosted by the Center for American Progress, Spanta criticized this new approach, calling it “reductionist” and warning that “any reductionist policy is bound to fail.”
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Isn’t it good to feel wanted .
February 26th, 2009 at 12:45 pmdog forbid the US listen to the Afghan people and look for ways to help them build the country they would like.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:47 pmThis is a good interview. Nice job. Who’s right? Spanta or the polling data?
February 26th, 2009 at 12:51 pmWho’s right? Spanta or the polling data?
What’s more accurate? One person’s opinion of public support or a poll of public support? I’ll let you decide for yourself…
…but we’ve taken a poll and determined that it is more accurate in measuring public opinion than your opinion.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:57 pmThe Bush puppets in Afghanistan are looking forward to getting the money that the US gave Iraq. Some Americans who object to the Stimulus Package had no problem giving away 1 Trillion dollars to Iraq and saying they don’t have to pay it back. Now Afghanistan will hold an election and if it’s not fixed the Bush puppets will be out. President Obama will have to deal with the new President that the people elect. It’s stange how the Taliban and George W. Bush were such good friends that Bush even had then in the US as his guest now their the enemy. Maybe President Obama can broker a peace deal as he’s not looking to stab them in the back like Bush/Cheney. The Taliban now know Bush befriended them only to build a pipe line for oil in Afghanistan. Bush/Cheney had brought chaos and lies to the World now it’s time for Obama/Biden to clean up the mess.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:58 pmIt appears that Mr. Spanta is careful to say “International community” when describing what his country still supports. The US (although being the vast majority that makes up the “International community”) is largley viewed as causing more havoc and mindless destruction than the Taliban.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:00 pmThe Afhegan Foreigner Minister knows very well that he only represents a small section of Afhegan in Kabul. He knows his puppet government pretent to rules over a small section of that city. The Afhegans want ‘Foreigner Invaders and occupiers’ OUT! And gess what, Oba/Bush/Oba can surge as much as he wants, Afhegans will prevail as they always did since the time of Alexander the Great!
February 26th, 2009 at 1:10 pmGood to know that in Afghanistan people lie en masse to pollsters while their leaders know their hearts and minds.
“Who you gonna believe, me or your lyin’ eyes?”
PEACE
February 26th, 2009 at 1:11 pm5 jakie
February 26th, 2009 at 1:13 pmObama/Biden are not moving to clean up the mess, but to continue with Bush’s policies and the infamous Oil Pipeline… Obama is changing right?!
sacopenapa Says:
And gess what, Oba/Bush/Oba can surge as much as he wants, Afhegans will prevail as they always did since the time of Alexander the Great!
February 26th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
_________
What are Afhegans?
February 26th, 2009 at 1:17 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
What are Afhegans?
February 26th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
__________
If you’re talking about some sort of Afghan Vegan, I don’t believe you’ll find any.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:18 pm.
… Of course the USA has always been at war with South West Asia/Middle East.
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February 26th, 2009 at 1:21 pmat least Obama is putting the costs of the “wars” into the budget instead of the dishonest off-the-books approach that Bush took to hide the costs from the people
February 26th, 2009 at 1:22 pmApparently this guy doesn’t watch the interviews with Afghan civilians on Al Jazeera where they countless times have gone “We want the US occupation out, we are tired of our fathers,mothers,sons,daughters,brothers and sisters etc etc getting bombed by their so called “smart weapons”
February 26th, 2009 at 1:51 pmFrankly, I think it’s too late for any positive gain by the West in Afghanistan. It got blown when the U.S. moved their focus and money to a “war of choice” in Iraq. We’ve had nothing but a puppet government in there since our invasion and the Afghani government controls (and not even completely) Kabul. Karzai’s own family (his brother) is evidently involved in the drug trade, and the entire government is rife with corruption. Combine that with Bush’s support of Musharraf for years in Pakistan, and there’s been a royal SNAFU. Going back further of course is the U.S. financial support (and CIA covert actions) during the Afghan-Russian war including empowering bin Laden at that time. We consistently have wound up creating our own monsters. All the policies of the past number of years has done nothing but strengthen the terrorists, as well as strengthen Iran’s influence in the region by toppling Iraq’s former government. Frankly, I’d be tempted to turn the whole mess over to Iran at this point, and let them deal with it.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:00 pmWe are welcome now and we get to see photos of Obama’s war dead too.
Change we can believe in!
February 26th, 2009 at 2:13 pm#9 sacopenapa
Sorry I forgot the Bush White House propaganda Dept. reported something different. I just happen to get my information from the troops in Afghanistan who are there and really know what’s going on. As a Military Mom who had a child in both Iraq and Afghanistan news comes more up to date and correct from both Iraq/Afghanistan . But after reading your comment I understand it’s better to believe the lie and deal with the truth. FYI at President Karzi’s swearing in his first order of business was to sign the US pipe line as the US get to work right away. Now I know that wasn’t released for you to read but as my son was there to join in the celebration I think he and his fellow soldiers know more then you or I who were safely at home in the USA. Don’t worry more of the truth will come out soon and it will be big news to you but old news to Military Families with children overseas.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:35 pmLiberated? So they could STILL kill people for their religious beliefs?
February 26th, 2009 at 3:04 pm#17 Jackie:
Don’t forget the poppies.
February 26th, 2009 at 3:05 pmWe are welcome now and we get to see photos of Obama’s war dead too.
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February 26th, 2009 at 3:18 pmOh shit did Obama start a war? I am so sick of these wars being started by these presidents… Geez, Only a few days in and already starting a war… Wait a minute… Didn’t this war start…
It’s “reductionist” to not want to overthrow every country in the Middle East? Yeah…
February 26th, 2009 at 3:50 pmBarbera Says:
Obama didnt START the war you ignorant brainwashed parasite
February 26th, 2009 at 4:47 pmNo doubt the Afghans want the troops to stay. Their Opium business has never been better since the international troop presence has kept the warlords from fighting each other.
Now the warlords work together to grow, process and ship opium based products abroad. Most of it reaches our high school and college campuses which explains why our educational system can’t even compete with third world countries anymore.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:04 pmBarbera Says:
We are welcome now and we get to see photos of Obama’s war dead too.
Change we can believe in!
Did Obama campaign on ending the war in Afghanistan? Because as I recall during his campaign he was promising to heat that one up.
You’ve probably forgotten this every time it’s been told to you, but the war in Afghanistan was the one that’s generally considered to be “just,” in that they were ruled by the Taliban who was sheltering Al Qaeda who attacked us on 9/11/2001. The war in Iraq there was no reason for.
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Tim43 Says:
Most of it reaches our high school and college campuses which explains why our educational system can’t even compete with third world countries anymore.
That part there, it’s crazy. There does not happen to be a huge wave of heroin addiction sweeping our schools and harming our educational performance compared to other nations. I mean, it sounds like a cool story, but it just ain’t the case.
February 27th, 2009 at 12:33 am… the sweeping desires of regional democratization that were a foundation of Bush administration national security policy.”
who the hell did they think they are???
February 27th, 2009 at 8:55 pm