Public Optimism Fades in Afghanistan - The Associated Press-

WASHINGTON -- Optimism is starting to fade among the people of Afghanistan five years after the fall of the Taliban and amid rising violence in the country, a poll found. The reasons cited most often for the pessimism were a bad economy and the resurgent power of the Taliban militia, whose severe Islamic rule was ended by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Most in Afghanistan still think the U.S.-led invasion five years ago had positive effects on their country.