Buildings Down, Heroin Up Afghanistan Five Years Later

Afghanistan has been a policy disaster from the get-go. The country is ravaged by war and unemployment, security beyond the capital of Kabul is virtually nonexistent, and malnutrition rates among children are higher than they are anywhere other than sub-Saharan Africa. Now, Karzai, who has seen his funding from the US slashed year after year, is forced to take his begging bowl to the world community; asking for the crumbs they can spare to bandage his failed-state together.

Afghanistan excels in one thing alone; the production and export of opium, a booming business which now provides 90% of the world's heroin.

Is this what Bush had in mind when he promised Americans to rebuild and democratize the battle-scarred country; a modern-day drug-colony, occupied by legions of indifferent volunteers who rarely venture beyond their US controlled compounds?

His promise of a Marshall Plan was similar to all of Bush's promises; just more hot air hissssssing from a punctured tire.

After overthrowing the Taliban Bush made this commitment to the people of Afghanistan:

"We know that true peace will only be achieved when we give the Afghan people the means to achieve their own aspirationsWe're working hard in Afghanistan. We're clearing minefields. We're rebuilding roads. We're improving medical care. And we will work to help Afghanistan to develop an economy that can feed its people without feeding the world's demand for drugsBy helping to build an Afghanistan that is free from this evil and is a better place in which to live, we are working in the best traditions of George Marshall. Marshall knew that our military victory against enemies in World War II had to be followed by a moral victory that resulted in better lives for individual human beings."

"Marshall Plan?" "Building roads?" "Improving medical care?" "Developing the economy?"

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

Bush's penchant for hyperbole has not been lost on the Afghani people.

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