How do the 50 million people freed by President George W. Bush feel today?

In Afhanistan:

Sixty-four percent of people thought the country was heading in the right direction, with just 11 percent saying it was going the wrong way.

Security was listed as the greatest “national” concern by 37 percent of respondents, ahead of the economy, at 29 percent.

But both the economy and the country’s dilapidated or nonexistent infrastructure were seen as the greatest “local” problems.

Eighty-one percent said they planned to vote in national elections, which at the time of the survey included parliamentary polls now delayed until spring.

The pollsters didn’t ask people who they planned to vote for — presidential nominations began only on Saturday. But 62 percent gave Karzai a rating of “good” or “excellent.”

Still, only 37 percent were confident the vote would be fair, backing the arguments of the Afghan government and the United Nations that the country’s unruly militias must be disarmed first.

In Iraq, an independent polling firm found:

• 73% approve of new Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, who says he wants to crush the insurgents and foreign terrorists disturbing the peace of his country.
• 84% support new President Ghazi Yawar, who shares Allawi’s commitment to crushing the insurgents and terrorists.
• 82% support the U.S.-trained police who will work to enforce the peace.
• 70% support the newly forming Iraqi army that will track down and kill the insurgents and terrorists.
• 80% say the new government will “make things better” for Iraq.

These results roughly mirror another poll released last week by the International Republican Institute. It surveyed almost 2,000 Iraqis in all 18 Iraqi provinces and found that 65% believe things will be better a year from now. Also, 72% have a positive impression of President Yawar, and 51% have a positive impression of Prime Minister Allawi. Iraqis in this poll said the three most important issues to them are: security and crime (almost 70%), economic issues (almost 70%) and infrastructure (almost 65%).

Most important, no one is saying that their biggest concern is getting beaten by the Taliban enforcers or fed to plastic shredders.