The Philadelphia Trumpet, a magazine published by the Philadelphia Church of God, based in Edmond, Oklahoma, is claiming that increased German investment in Latin America places the US in greater danger than "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Osama bin Laden and Vladimir Putin combined". The magazine argues that the recent spate of investment builds on groundwork laid by Nazis who took refuge in Latin America, and that "Germany’s takeover of Latin America would put European forces directly on the southern border of the U.S. and present an ideal scenario for a full-scale invasion of America".
Now being grumpy at "Old Europe" is one thing, but this is really out there. I know one shouldn't draw conclusions based on what one Evangelical church is saying, but the question is: to what extent will this sort of extreme nativism catch on?
Showing posts with label Osama bin Laden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Osama bin Laden. Show all posts
03 December 2007
Afghans oppose the Taliban, want NATO to stay for now
The results of a poll conducted in Afghanistan between October and November 2007 indicate that Afghans oppose the Taliban and support both President Hamid Karzai and his American backers, along with their NATO allies. The poll, commissioned by the BBC World Service, ABC News and the German network ARD, involved interviews with 1,377 Afghans from different parts of the country.
Some results (taken from this PDF):
54% of Afghans believe their country is headed in the right direction. The biggest factor in this view is "good security". For those who believe Afghanistan is headed in the wrong direction, the biggest reason is problems with the economy.
According to 30% of Afghans, the biggest problem currently facing Afghanistan is "security/warlords/attacks/violence". According to 26%, the Taliban is the biggest problem.
"Security from crime and violence" was the biggest priority for the largest number of Afghans (28%). "Getting U.S. troops out of Afghanistan" was the topmost priority for only 3% of Afghans.
15% of Afghans rate work done by the current Afghan government as excellent, and 44% rate it as good.
26% of Afghans rate work done by Karzai as excellent, and 37% rate it as good.
8% of Afghans rate the role of the US in Afghanistan as excellent, and 35% rate it as good. 21% rate it as poor.
84% of Afghans want the current government to continue ruling the country. 4% would rather have the Taliban rule.
52% of Afghans believe that the Taliban is the biggest danger to the country. 10% think the US is.
Asked their opinion about the 2001 US invasion which toppled the Taliban government, 35% of Afghans rated the intervention as very good, and 40% rated it as mostly good.
20% of Afghans strongly support the presence of US troops in Afghanistan today, while 51% support it somewhat.
25% of Afghans strongly support the presence of NATO and ISAF forces in Afghanistan today, while 42% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support the presence of foreign "Jihadi fighters" in Afghanistan, while 13% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support Taliban fighters, while 4% support them somewhat.
Asked whom they blame the most for the violence seen in Afghanistan today, 36% fo Afghans named the Taliban, 22% named al-Qaeda and "foreign jihadis". 16% named the US or George Bush, and 3% blamed NATO and ISAF member-states.
42% of Afghans think the Taliban have grown stronger over the past year.
60% of Afghans believe that the government should negotiate a peace settlement with the Taliban.
74% of Afghans think that attacks against US forces in Afghanistan are not justified.
77% of Afghans think that attacks against non-American NATO or ISAF forces are not justified.
91% of Afghans think that attacks against the Afghan police or army are not justified.
94% of Afghans think that attacks against officials of the Afghan government are not justified.
42% of Afghans believe that US forces should leave the country only after security is restored there.
43% believe that non-US NATO and ISAF forces should leave only after security is restored in Afghanistan.
Only 3% of Afghans think the Taliban have a "very strong presence" in their area, while 7% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
By contrast, 11% of Afghans think that US/NATO/ISAF forces have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 39% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
3% of Afghans think that "foreign jihadis" have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 11% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
35% of Afghans are very confident and 47% are fairly confident that the Afghan government can provide security in their area.
1% of Afghans are very confident and 7% are fairly confident that the Taliban can provide security in their area.
12% of Afghans are very confident and 40% are fairly confident that US/NATO/ISAF forces can provide security in their area.
2% of Afghans are very confident and 10% are fairly confident that "foreign jihadis" can provide security in their area.
69% of Afghans believe the Pakistani government allows the Taliban to operate from its territory.
62% of Afghans believe the cultivation of opium is "unacceptable in all cases".
84% of Afghans think their government should "kill off" the poppy crop.
69% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of the Taliban, while 15% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
76% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Osama bin Laden, while 11% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
48% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the US, while 17% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the UK, while 11% have a very favourable view of it.
49% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Germany, while 22% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Iran, while 14% have a very favourable view of it.
63% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Pakistan and 16% have a somewhat unfavourable view of it.
Some results (taken from this PDF):
54% of Afghans believe their country is headed in the right direction. The biggest factor in this view is "good security". For those who believe Afghanistan is headed in the wrong direction, the biggest reason is problems with the economy.
According to 30% of Afghans, the biggest problem currently facing Afghanistan is "security/warlords/attacks/violence". According to 26%, the Taliban is the biggest problem.
"Security from crime and violence" was the biggest priority for the largest number of Afghans (28%). "Getting U.S. troops out of Afghanistan" was the topmost priority for only 3% of Afghans.
15% of Afghans rate work done by the current Afghan government as excellent, and 44% rate it as good.
26% of Afghans rate work done by Karzai as excellent, and 37% rate it as good.
8% of Afghans rate the role of the US in Afghanistan as excellent, and 35% rate it as good. 21% rate it as poor.
84% of Afghans want the current government to continue ruling the country. 4% would rather have the Taliban rule.
52% of Afghans believe that the Taliban is the biggest danger to the country. 10% think the US is.
Asked their opinion about the 2001 US invasion which toppled the Taliban government, 35% of Afghans rated the intervention as very good, and 40% rated it as mostly good.
20% of Afghans strongly support the presence of US troops in Afghanistan today, while 51% support it somewhat.
25% of Afghans strongly support the presence of NATO and ISAF forces in Afghanistan today, while 42% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support the presence of foreign "Jihadi fighters" in Afghanistan, while 13% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support Taliban fighters, while 4% support them somewhat.
Asked whom they blame the most for the violence seen in Afghanistan today, 36% fo Afghans named the Taliban, 22% named al-Qaeda and "foreign jihadis". 16% named the US or George Bush, and 3% blamed NATO and ISAF member-states.
42% of Afghans think the Taliban have grown stronger over the past year.
60% of Afghans believe that the government should negotiate a peace settlement with the Taliban.
74% of Afghans think that attacks against US forces in Afghanistan are not justified.
77% of Afghans think that attacks against non-American NATO or ISAF forces are not justified.
91% of Afghans think that attacks against the Afghan police or army are not justified.
94% of Afghans think that attacks against officials of the Afghan government are not justified.
42% of Afghans believe that US forces should leave the country only after security is restored there.
43% believe that non-US NATO and ISAF forces should leave only after security is restored in Afghanistan.
Only 3% of Afghans think the Taliban have a "very strong presence" in their area, while 7% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
By contrast, 11% of Afghans think that US/NATO/ISAF forces have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 39% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
3% of Afghans think that "foreign jihadis" have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 11% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
35% of Afghans are very confident and 47% are fairly confident that the Afghan government can provide security in their area.
1% of Afghans are very confident and 7% are fairly confident that the Taliban can provide security in their area.
12% of Afghans are very confident and 40% are fairly confident that US/NATO/ISAF forces can provide security in their area.
2% of Afghans are very confident and 10% are fairly confident that "foreign jihadis" can provide security in their area.
69% of Afghans believe the Pakistani government allows the Taliban to operate from its territory.
62% of Afghans believe the cultivation of opium is "unacceptable in all cases".
84% of Afghans think their government should "kill off" the poppy crop.
69% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of the Taliban, while 15% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
76% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Osama bin Laden, while 11% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
48% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the US, while 17% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the UK, while 11% have a very favourable view of it.
49% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Germany, while 22% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Iran, while 14% have a very favourable view of it.
63% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Pakistan and 16% have a somewhat unfavourable view of it.
30 July 2007
Bin Laden's popularity low among Muslims
According to the recent Pew Global Attitudes survey (results available in a PDF), few Muslims have confidence in Osama bin Laden.
Asked whether they had "confidence in Osama bin Laden to do the right thing regarding world affairs," the following proportions of Muslim respondents said they had a lot of confidence or some confidence in him: 20% in Jordan, 20% in Morocco, 18% in Egypt, 13% in Kuwait, 5% in Turkey, 1% in Lebanon, 38% in Pakistan, 41% in Indonesia, 39% in Bangladesh, 32% in Malaysia, 30% in Mali, 20% in Senegal, 37% in Ethiopia, and 11% in Tanzania.
Only in two countries or territories did the majority of Muslim respondents express a lot or some confidence in bin Laden: Palestine, with 57%, and Nigeria, with 52%.
It is not surprising that Palestinians have a somewhat different view of the world from other Muslims at the moment, but what's with bin Laden's relatively high popularity among Nigerian Muslims? Perhaps President Umaru Yar'Adua should investigate the roots of the disaffection that Nigerian Muslims must be feeling.
Asked whether they had "confidence in Osama bin Laden to do the right thing regarding world affairs," the following proportions of Muslim respondents said they had a lot of confidence or some confidence in him: 20% in Jordan, 20% in Morocco, 18% in Egypt, 13% in Kuwait, 5% in Turkey, 1% in Lebanon, 38% in Pakistan, 41% in Indonesia, 39% in Bangladesh, 32% in Malaysia, 30% in Mali, 20% in Senegal, 37% in Ethiopia, and 11% in Tanzania.
Only in two countries or territories did the majority of Muslim respondents express a lot or some confidence in bin Laden: Palestine, with 57%, and Nigeria, with 52%.
It is not surprising that Palestinians have a somewhat different view of the world from other Muslims at the moment, but what's with bin Laden's relatively high popularity among Nigerian Muslims? Perhaps President Umaru Yar'Adua should investigate the roots of the disaffection that Nigerian Muslims must be feeling.
22 July 2007
South Koreans to negotiate with Taliban over hostages
A group of South Korean envoys are in Afghanistan in order to negotiate with the Taliban about 23 of their citizens who are being held hostage by the militant group. The Afghan army has surrounded the Taliban position in Ghazni Province where the militants are holding the South Koreans hostage.
The Afghan deputy interior minister, Gen. Munir Mangal, said that, since the Pashtuns are known for their hospitality, he hoped the Taliban would treat the South Koreans with respect (BBC).
It seems a little much to expect the Taliban to show hospitality to their hostages, now doesn't it? But there's no harm in reminding them of the values they hold so dear; after all, they sheltered Osama bin Laden in 2001 on the pretext that their hospitality is inviolable.
The Afghan deputy interior minister, Gen. Munir Mangal, said that, since the Pashtuns are known for their hospitality, he hoped the Taliban would treat the South Koreans with respect (BBC).
It seems a little much to expect the Taliban to show hospitality to their hostages, now doesn't it? But there's no harm in reminding them of the values they hold so dear; after all, they sheltered Osama bin Laden in 2001 on the pretext that their hospitality is inviolable.
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