An interesting piece in the Washington Post about the state of affairs in Afghanistan today, as opposed to two years ago. Without a peaceful government, businesses are not willing to invest in Afghanistan, although many have pledged millions of dollars. And so the primary task is to implement a civil society. Not easy, especially when the country is in ruins, and has been in ruins for decades. It was in ruins long before the West came along to defeat the Taliban. The Russians destroyed the country, in some places for good. Land mines still maim and kill people, landmines left by the Red Army. We are talking millions and millions of land mines. Until those are found and destroyed, it will be a very difficult task to rebuild the roads, buildings.
Regardless: some of the stories told in the article are hopeful. Small businesses starting up again, owned and operated by Afghans, an entrepreneurial class emerging … From these seeds democracy could rise.
Sabit Latifa took the savings he had and opened up a private Internet cafe. This one cafe has blossomed into an empire.
“The government and [international aid organizations] won’t make Afghans stand on their own feet,” [Latifa] said. “Businessmen will do it.”
