And 90% of Them Hate Osama's Guts

Somewhere, an ABC News executive is weeping quietly. UN flags at mainstream media headquarters are flying at half-staff, and an Apple falls in the Gray Lady's orchard (profit yes, prophet no). There is no joy in Leftville, for the numbers don't pan out.

And now, a few results from the recent ABC News poll taken in Afghanistan:

77 percent of Afghans say their country is headed in the right direction — compared with 30 percent in the vastly better-off United States. Ninety-one percent prefer the current Afghan government to the Taliban regime, and 87 percent call the U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban good for their country. Osama bin Laden, for his part, is as unpopular as the Taliban; nine in 10 view him unfavorably.

Eighty-three percent of Afghans express a favorable opinion of the United States

Eighty-three percent of Afghans express a favorable opinion of the United States overall, similar to the 87 percent who call the U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban a good thing.

nine in 10 view him [Osama] unfavorably

85 percent of Afghans say living conditions there are better now than they were under the Taliban. Eighty percent cite improved freedom to express political views. And 75 percent say their security from crime and violence has improved as well. After decades of oppression and war, many Afghans see a better life.

Nine in 10 Afghans support girls' education and women voting, three-quarters support women holding jobs and two-thirds support women holding government office — remarkable in a country where the Taliban so thoroughly repressed such rights.

Eighty-three percent rate their overall living conditions positively, and ratings are nearly as high both for local schools and the availability of food. Just more than seven in 10 likewise say their security from crime and violence is good.

The fall of the Taliban happened while the Left was still in disarray; the anti-war chorus never tuned up and got into full throat, as they have in Iraq.

Also posted at The Jawa Report.