A new survey for World Public Opinion.org shows that fewer Afghanis support the existing government and the presence of NATO forces in Afghanistan than did a year ago. Today, some 62 percent feel Afghanistan is “going in the right direction,” compared to 83 percent a year ago. WPO says the declining support appears to be related to the slow pace of reconstruction efforts. A majority (58 percent) see the pace of rebuilding of roads, schools, hospitals, and services such as water supply as poor to fair. However, this shifting attitude is definitely not a sign that the Taliban is gaining friends. According to WPO, nearly 92 percent of Afghanis—up from 88 percent last year—do not approve of the Taliban.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.