Afghans feel less safe, according to new study

[David]

AP


WASHINGTON - Security in Afghanistan is deteriorating, with the budding Afghan army one of the few rays of hope in a nation where conditions are dire, according to a study funded by the U.S. government.

"The security sector shows the most dramatic decline" of the five areas studied, said an interim report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies made available. "Last year, efforts to stabilize and secure the country were seen as a success. Today, however, Afghans feel less safe than they did a year ago."

At the same time, progress is being made in building the Afghan National Army, and Afghans continue to have confidence that as the army gains strength security will greatly improve.

The report says that Afghans have not yet lost faith in their government or the international community, but that the country is "at a tipping point" and the effort to rebuild Afghanistan will fail unless "the needs of ordinary Afghans are met."

"Afghans are less hopeful today than they were a year ago. The state-building mission has lost ground, and is slipping further into the danger zone," the report says.

The Washington, D.C.-based think tank is evaluating progress in a study funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The project has included 1,000 lengthy interviews with Afghans, equally divided between men and women, throughout Afghanistan.

The six Afghan interviewers, each trained in social science research, covered five areas: security, governance, justice, economic opportunity and social well-being. The study is expected to be completed in February.

The report quotes a resident of Kandahar, a southern province that is among the most violent in the country, asking: "Where is security? Everywhere there are explosions that ki ll poor and helpless people."

As far as how the government is functioning, "Governance has fallen into the danger zone this year, mostly because Afghans perceive the government to be losing credibility and capacity."

Meanwhile, NATO and Afghan troops battled a large group of insurgents over the weekend, attacking their military base in southern Afghanistan, killing 55 suspected militants, an alliance statement said today.

NATO official: Deaths of civilians a tragedy

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called it a tragedy that NATO troops killed Afghan civilians last week - and privately told President Bush that Taliban-associated militants used the civilians as human shields.

The deaths occurred Tuesday during NATO operations in the Panjwayi district of southern Afghanistan, aimed at quelling the country's deadliest spate of violence since the Taliban were ousted by U.S.-led forces five years ago. Militants increasingly have resorted to suicide and roadside bombs, particularly in the south and east of the country near Pakistan.

NATO has said its initial reports found 12 civilians were killed. But Afghan officials have estimated between 30 and 80 died, including many women and children. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Friday that three houses were destroyed, killing most of the people inside, and that his Defense Ministry was leading an investigation.

"When, in those actions of NATO, of those brave NATO soldiers, civilians are killed, as happened two days ago, that's always a tragedy," de Hoop Scheffer said after meeting for about an hour with Bush.

[MARINEVET]

Afghans aren't the ONLY ONES who feel "less safe" over here!

Interesting reading lately from all the NATO aligned Bubbas. Some of them (as with the Brit LtGen over here) can't seem to make two press statements in a row that jibe!!!

I see another article you posted David...may reply to that one too, but as most have figured out by now, I'm sticking with my original comments/take on the overall issue...adding some points and qualifications as folks bring up side bar discussion, but my take remains the same...and...I'm right here on the deck where most of this flail is taking place...here and within about 60 clicks in any direction.

Semper Fi to All from the Sands of Kandahar,