Survey: Afghanistan operation seen as a failure

Most Finns nevertheless want Finland to stay in crisis area

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A majority of Finns feel that the international community has failed in handling the crisis in Afghanistan. In spite of that, most also want Finland to continue taking part in the operation.
      According to a survey commissioned by the Advisory Board for Defence Information, and conducted by the polling organisation Taloustutkimus, between 72 and 78 per cent feel that efforts in Afghanistan to improve the status of women, to establish democratic governance and better living conditions, to fight terrorism, to stabilise conditions, and to reduce the production of drugs have failed.
     
Finns nevertheless want Finland to take part in crisis management, with 67 per cent of respondents answering “no” to the question of whether or not Finland should completely stay out of Afghanistan.
      A majority felt that Finland should help Afghanistan establish democracy.
      More than half felt that Finland should participate in stabilising conditions through the means of military crisis management.
     
The respondents were also asked for their opinion on the background of the Afghanistan conflict.
      A majority of 68 per cent saw it as a crisis management operation to stabilise security.
      About two out of three respondents saw the operation as peace enforcement, a civil war, and making sure that Afghanistan does not become a support area for terrorism.
      Nearly 1,000 people were interviewed for the study. The interviews took place from September 25th through October 20th this year. The margin of error is three percentage points in either direction.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish soldiers return from Afghanistan (29.10.2009)
  Häkämies: More Finnish soldiers and civilians to Afghanistan in 2011 (23.10.2009)
  Finland in no hurry to reassess Afghanistan schedule (5.11.2009)
  Finnish peacekeepers under fire in Afghanistan (30.10.2009)

Links:
  Ministry of Defence website: the Advisory Board for Defence Information

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