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.
Lockheed Martin projects more than a billion dollars of losses on a classified program, but company officials said April 23 they are confident it will turn profitable by 2028 and become a "franchise" system in the U.S. military.