Afghanistan native Zuhra Doost said she prays every day that her "country will one day be in peace and our people can live their lives without fear."

"I wish instead of the billions of dollars that are spent on (the) military, some money would be spent on building schools and hospitals and creating jobs," said the 22-year-old Brenau University student.

She and two other Afghan women, Khadija Safi and Shamim Siddiqi, attending the Gainesville college recently took some time from last-minute papers and cramming for tests — all are accounting majors — to talk about their homeland and President Barack Obama's announcement last week of a troop surge.

All three women arrived at Brenau through a scholarship program, Initiative to Educate Afghan Women.

Doost, born in Kabul, is spending her first year in the U.S. and said she is enjoying life so far.

"The people are really helpful and caring," she said.

Her family of nine, with Doost as the youngest, migrated to Pakistan after civil war broke out in 1992 and remained in the neighboring country until 2004.

"I was too young to understand what caused us and millions of others to suffer the pain of leaving one's home empty-handed and start living (in) a new and foreign country," she said.

"People in power make decisions and the ordinary people have to pay the price for it. This way, more and more people wouldn't join the Taliban just to be able to make a living."

Doost said she wished she could speak to her country's customs, culture and other practices.

"But unfortunately, the word ‘war' is accompanying our country's history for many years. ... As a citizen who was born during one of the wars, I can say I hate it."

As for Obama sending 0 more troops, she said she questions what she sees as his goal to "build the capacity of the Afghan Army during the next 18 months."

"I just wonder if this is possible at all since there is little trust between the Afghans and foreign troops, and the last eight years have made this even more difficult," she said. "More troops, in addition to bringing more security, will also cause more civil casualties.

"This trust would have been a lot easier to achieve through increased nonmilitary intervention. For instance, a good strategy would have addressed the 40 percent unemployment rate in Afghanistan."

Safi, a Brenau senior, said she doesn't normally support military intervention or a buildup of troops, but she doesn't dismiss Obama's decision.

"Right now, the Taliban are infiltrating different parts of the country and if not stopped, they can capture territory and even can topple Afghanistan's (developing) democracy," Safi, 28, said.

Siddiqi, 24, said she does not believe "adding more troops will ever help the country."

If the U.S. "really wants to help Afghanistan, instead of sending more troops, it will spend the money on building factories and providing jobs for people," she said.

"People seem to distrust the U.S. now because (the) situation has not changed for them since (the war began)," she said. "... There has been no positive change in the field of security.

"Since the U.S. already has thousands of its troops there, I think the current number should be enough in building up Afghan security force and protecting Afghans."

Many U.S. politicians are split on whether the troop surge will hasten the war to end. Some lawmakers say the U.S. shouldn't be announcing any sort of timeline for troop withdrawal at this point.

"I do not think pulling out is a (good) idea ... unless the U.S. becomes successful in defeating the Taliban and enhancing security there," Siddiqi said.

She said she believes America can win the war if the troop surge works.

Doost said she doesn't think the war is winnable "with guns alone."

Safi said she believes "if the American military and civilian efforts provide basic services of life to Afghan people, it can change people's perception about America and the Afghan government.

"Right now, people are distrustful of the Afghan government and the Americans because their hopes of a stable Afghanistan with a good economy were shattered," she said. "However, the majority of the people in Afghanistan don't view American troops as (the) enemy and they still have hopes that maybe the situation would change and peace would prevail in Afghanistan. I hope and pray that they don't get disappointed."

Safi said she is "looking forward to contributing in any way possible to my country" after she graduates from Brenau.

"Hopefully, I would be able to (work in) some sort of business when I return home."

Doost said she wants to "transfer the knowledge that I am getting here at Brenau University to my people, perhaps through teaching, providing training or simply transferring better work principles in the field of accounting."

"The needs in Afghanistan are just too many," she said. "People need a lot of things, such as security, health care, improved education, transportation system, food, shelter and all other necessities of life. I believe investments in educating the next generation and current generation can pay the best returns."

After graduation, Siddiqi plans to go to graduate school and pursue her master's degree in business administration.