The prevalent theory about accusations that Afghan detainees are being tortured after Canadian troops make the formality of motioning them over to the Afghan authorities riding along on patrol, is that it undermines the public confidence in the ISAF mission and brings support to the Taliban. Which is true, apparently, if you read the Canadian media. But here’s an interesting fact. The Canadian media has no idea what it’s talking about. Usually, anyway.

From a 2009 International Red Cross Survey that compares results to a 1999 Red Cross Survey:

• Reported incidents of ‘combatants taking food away’ are down from 49% to 27%;
• Fewer people have had their homes looted: down from 51% to 33%;
• Reported conflict-related deaths in respondents’ families are down from 53% to 35%;
• Those having to leave their home is down from 83% to 60%;
• Those who report having been tortured are down from 43% to 29%.

“Facts” tend to have a decidedly pro-interventionist bias, don’t they?

A BBC poll released in late December of 2009 shows similar improvement in quality of life, even though Afghanistan is still a dangerous war zone:

70% of respondents said the country is headed “in the right direction.”
2% of respondents blamed “foreign influence” as the biggest problem facing Afghanistan.
85% of respondents would rate the present government as “fair”, “good”, or “excellent.”
89% of respondents would rate the Afghan National Army as “fair”, “good”, or “excellent.”
71% of respondents would rate American Forces as “fair”, “good”, or “excellent.”
70% of respondents would rate International Forces as “fair”, “good”, or “excellent.”
6% of respondents would prefer a Taliban government in Afghanistan.
69% of respondents cited the Taliban as posing the “biggest danger in our country”.
4% of respondents cited the Americans as posing the “biggest danger in our country”.
83% of respondents said that it was good that the United States helped topple the Taliban.
68% of respondents said they support the presence of U.S. troops.
62% of respondents said they support the presence of international troops.
17% of respondents said they support foreign jihadi fighters.
10% of respondents said they support domestic Taliban fighters.
66% of respondents blamed violence in the country on Taliban/al-Qaeda.

As for the nonsense that gender misogyny and violence is just a part of their “culture”:

88% of respondents said women have the right to vote.
74% of respondents said women should work outside the home.
69% of respondents said women should hold public office.
88% of respondents said girls should have the right to education.

The next time that the torture-renditions-war crimes crowd asks you a question, send them this link.