Well, it’s certainly not a vacation on the Riviera, but things are getting better — particularly in Kabul, despite all the problems.
Many of those perceived troubles are real and worrisome, and nobody would mistake Kabul for a prosperous and peaceful city. Sections are still in ruins, and many of the 600,000 returning refugees who have flooded the city live precariously on the margins. Islamic militants remain determined to destabilize and oust the Karzai government through violence, and periodic attacks continue. There is also concern that the flashier developments could offend conservative Afghan attitudes and create a dangerously wide divide between the relatively rich and the very poor.
But whatever the risks, the Kabul of today is almost unrecognizable as the austere city ruled not long ago by the Taliban — or as the place where warring Islamic militias demolished neighborhood after neighborhood, or where Soviets presided over a rebellious socialist state.
Most notably, Afghanistan’s seeing a lot of business investment from abroad, and entrepreneurs at home. We should definitely be doing all we can to encourage both.
Unfortunately, the clock is ticking in Afghanistan, and the administration “forgot” to include money in the budget for them. It took congress to approve something like $300 million.
The Taliban is making a return outside of Kabul; it’s not that rosey.
Oh good God, Scott, that has already been disproven. Weeks ago. There was no “forgetting” anything.
Just because Kabul hasn’t immediately turned into Scarsdale, it’s a failure! Jebus. I still remember the “failed Clinton presidency,” five minutes after he took office, because everyone in America didn’t immediately receive free health care.
Proven? No, it wasn’t, from what I saw. Where’s the link? Seriously, I never saw anything to the contrary.
Based on what I’ve read and seen in the Blog-o-sphere there seems to be some confusion between the 2002 budget approved last month and the just proposed 2003 budget and we’ll leave it at that.
Some more info here, as well as commentary here.