Afghanistan

5 thoughts on “Afghanistan”

1. Where’s the money?

   Humanitarian efforts are great. We’re doing them all over the world. Go us! But where’s the money (and jobs and rebuilding)? What exactly are we supposed to do to build Afghanistan as a feasible place to live? Or are we basically giving them the same treatment we would animals in any zoo?

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2. This document indicates there’s been about $781MM in humanitarian assistance from the US government 2001-03, $65MM of it this FY. Here’s the current State Dept. progress report (as of 24 March). Here’s also (with some dollar figures) some refugee support information. From the DoD, this article has an interesting summary.

   All of that is money. And, as the article in the post implies, it’s lives, too.

   I’d like to see more (of the former, of course), but it’s not a drop in the bucket, either.

   As to where the jobs and rebuilding are, a certain amount of pump priming (infrastructure issues, for example) is needed, but jobs (and the building that comes from them) are just as valuably generated by the economy itself. From what I’ve read of Kabul, at least, that seems to be coming along as well as can be expected.

   Afghanistan seems to be “a feasible place to live” in the eyes of the millions coming back from refugee camps. I could wish we were doing more, but I can’t fault what we are doing.

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3. This doc, from a 9/02 Sect’y Powell briefing, indicates that the US has provided 95% the money it pledged in Tokyo so far; some $4.5BB was pledged by various nations there.

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4. Thank you – I’m reading now. I’m impressed by the propaganda.

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5. Well, certainly it’s going to be spun from the perspective of the State (and Defense) Depts. Countervening cites (esp. as to the amounts given) are certainly welcome.

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