Sorry Spence, here's my take on just Afganistan. Iraq isn't far behind and to suggest we're wasting our time there and that our policies are misguided is an insult to our soldiers, to our institutions and our morals. Here's a small but important look at what we've accomplished there in just two years.
Afganistan:
Rebuilt 13 Afghan ministries, including the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, and Education and other institutions wiped out during the conflict and Taliban oppression.
Repairing buildings and record-keeping systems, and training competent managers and teachers.
Investing in primary education by building schools, training teachers, and providing textbooks not that was not allowed by the Taliban.
Spurring agricultural recovery and rural reconstruction.
Reconstituting the basic institutions of national government.
Ensuring that the reconciliation and reconstruction processes spelled out in the Bonn Agreement take place in a timely and transparent fashion is an important confidence-building measure after more than twenty years of internal conflict.
As an alternative to the Taliban's emphasis on isolation and a closed society, USAID programs support a free media; provide training for professional journalists; lend assistance to private organizations of women, professionals and reformers; nurture local non-governmental organizations through shared project implementation; and, launch other initiatives intended to spur free, open debate about the future of Afghanistan, and the participation in that debate by all elements of Afghan society committed to democratic principles.
Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization reported an 82% increase in production of wheat - Afghanistan's staple grain - since the fall of the Taliban, with a further increase in production expected with this year's harvest.
The Afghan central bank has been placed on a sound footing, new central bank and banking laws have been enacted, and the investment code is on the verge of promulgation.
The generosity of the U.S. people has provided 25 million textbooks for Afghan children.
We have repaired or rebuilt 121 health clinics and facilities and will rebuild or construct 400 more over the next three years. We have also repaired or rebuilt 203 schools and will build or rebuild another 1,000 by 2006.
Many ministries have been repaired, and an orderly national budget process is in place.
Functioning Judicial and Human Rights Commissions are in place, and programs are underway to begin demobilizing factional fighters in the countryside.
A post-Taliban rebirth of civil society is under way in Afghanistan, with numerous radio stations up and running, a journalist training center funded with U.S. assistance in operation in Kabul, and a functioning Ministry of Women's Affairs establishing women's centers-with strong Congressional encouragement-across the nation.
You see Spence, not all is wasted, not all is doom and gloom as you would have us believe. Yes there are many hurdles yet to be dealt with, lots of work ahead still, but I think this is the right path to be on.
Source: Andrew S. Natsios, USAID Administrator
More resources:
http://www.adb.org/Afghanistan/reports.asp