US to Seek New Afghan Aid Package of $1 Billion

[kskiska]

Planned Boost Comes Amid Criticism of Reconstruction

Sunday, July 27, 2003; Page A01

The Bush administration will soon propose a $1 billion aid package for Afghanistan aimed at bolstering the government of President Hamid Karzai and countering criticism that U.S. officials have lost interest in rebuilding the country as their focus has shifted to postwar Iraq, senior administration officials said yesterday.

The $1 billion package, which more than triples the $300 million Afghanistan receives, represents new spending on Afghanistan and is designed to fund projects that can be completed within a year to have maximum impact on the lives of the Afghan people before scheduled elections in October 2004, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

(snip)

Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.), the committee's chairman, commented a month earlier, during a hearing on postwar Iraq policy, that it "would be a horrendous mistake for us to invest the blood and treasure we have in getting rid of Saddam Hussein and then making the same mistake we made in Afghanistan, leaving the scene."

At the same hearing, Rep. William D. Delahunt (D-Mass.), said that "it's been about a year and a half in Afghanistan and President Karzai only has control, maybe, of Kabul, and we still have warlords all over that particular country. And I dare say that reconstruction in Afghanistan is a mess at this point."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51273-2003Jul26.html

[matt819]

1. Somebody do the comparison, please

How much did the US spend on supporting the Afghan mujahideen from 1979 until 1990. Hint: More than that $1 billion. Results: Well, it took 12 years, but the Muj won, the Soviets lost.

How much did the US spend to help get the Afghans on their way to some form of peace and/or democracy after the Soviets left in 1990, until 2001. Hint: Close to nothing. Results: Growth of Taliban and al-Qaeda, resulting in 9/11.

Just some observations. Think about it.

[lkinsale]

2. An hour late and a dollar short...

as my grandmother would say.

Oh ho, and there's a kicker...

Among other things, the funds -- to be shifted from existing foreign and military aid accounts so as not to increase the deficit.

Yeah right.

[wontmoveon]

3. If we can't kill them or win their hearts with forced democracy, we will

but them.

Just think, if the Iraqi Guard and other special forces had really fought us and not run or
deserted and their leaders had not been bought off by us, what a battle would be raging now?
Same in Afghanistan. Our money goes a long way to keep people who really hate us from
fighting us. But what happens when the money runs out?