A Class in Nation-Building 101

Bob Schieffer With Lessons Learned in Building a Western-Style Democracy in Afghanistan

(CBS)  As the President tries to develop a new strategy in Afghanistan, I wonder if this is the real lesson that we’ve learned in Afghanistan so far: that nation-building, like charity, probably begins at home (at least the way we seem to be going about it in Afghanistan).

Now, don’t get me wrong. Terrorism poses a threat to America’s national security. But is trying to build a Western-style nation in Afghanistan by funneling money to its leaders really the best way to combat terrorism?

I guess what set me off was that story about how we've secretly put the president of Afghanistan’s brother on the CIA payroll.

He's the one who's supposed to be mixed up in the drug trade.

The idea was that, by doing that, he’ll help us pave the way to building a democracy there. Now, that’s good work if you can get it, but I don’t see how that is making us safer.

Whatever the size of the military force the President decides on for Afghanistan, I think he needs to be paying more attention to where the money is going for the non-military spending there. Incredibly, no one really seems to know.

To judge by what we've gotten from it so far, we’d be much better off with some nation-building back home.

Our infrastructure is already a mess. We could start at the Oakland Bay Bridge where a five-thousand pound part of the top fell off into the traffic below. That would certainly make us safer for sure.

In Afghanistan we’re having to re-learn what we should've already known - that we can help others but we can't do it for them, and when we have to pay others to help themselves, I don’t see how that helps anyone but the guy getting paid.

[Ferrell-2]

I still say if we can get Bin Laden and his top lieutenants we will have won the battle against terrorism. Problem is, Pakistan won't let us root them out. We are using Afghanistan as our base of operations which makes sense due to its proximity but we must restrain ourselves from trying to alter the ethnicity of the Afghanistanis. Those people, at least most of them, don't know anything about democracy or individual freedoms and are not about to come out enmasse to assist us. We are paying the Afghanistan government(I use the word government loosly) a huge sum of money just to let us operate there but for what benefit other than sporadic fights with those troublsome warlords and their grunts. Maybe the reasoning behind the request for more troops is to flush Al Kaida out of Pakistan but, if so, we had better do it with utmost secrecy, hastily and quick exit. If it works, we can then get out of the region because Al Kaida will crumble without Bin Laden pulling the strings. If it fails, then I guess we will just have to wait for him to die but he seems to be eternal. Attacking Pakistan is dangerous and shouldn't be necessary but I see no other options since Pakistan is Al Kaida friendly.

[gw1gw1]

There seems to had been a bad slip of the tongue in the Commentary on 11/01/2009 Face the Nation

how we secretly put the PRESIDENT of Afghanistan?s BROTHER on the CIA payroll.

the words PRESIDENT and BROTHER were transposed.
Please, have it corrected (both in the broadcast and on the web page)
If adopted, please let me know.

Sorry, I don?t yet know what fonts and characters are acceptable for COMMENTs

[gw1gw1]

?Commentary? on 11/01/2009 ?Face the Nation? was excellent. But there was a bad slip of the tongue -- ???how we secretly put the President of Afghanistan?s brother on the CIA payroll??? obviously, the words ?President?? and ??brother?? were transposed.
Please, have it corrected (both in the broadcast and on the web page)
If adopted, please let me know.

[gw1gw1]

?Commentary? on 11/01/2009 ?Face the Nation? was excellent. But there was a bad slip of the tongue -- ???how we secretly put the President of Afghanistan?s brother on the CIA payroll??? obviously, the words ?President?? and ??brother?? were transposed.
Please, have it corrected (both in the broadcast and on the web page)
If adopted, please let me know.

[gw1gw1]

?Commentary? on 11/01/2009 ?Face the Nation? was excellent. But there was a bad slip of the tongue -- ???how we secretly put the President of Afghanistan?s brother on the CIA payroll??? obviously, the words ?President?? and ??brother?? were transposed.
Please, have it corrected (both in the broadcast and on the web page)
If adopted, please let me know.

[doc_holliday76]

To judge by what we've gotten from it so far, we?d be much better off with some nation-building back home.

Our infrastructure is already a mess.

In Afghanistan we?re having to re-learn what we should've already known - that we can help others but we can't do it for them, and when we have to pay others to help themselves, I don?t see how that helps anyone but the guy getting paid.
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Exactly! What the busheviks got us into during the past 8 years of bushworld, was the continued transfer of wealth from the U.S. Treasury to a small group of WAR profiteers in the military/industrial complex, while completely turning a blind eye towards our crumbling infrastructure here at home!

[hermitdave]

WELL Bob I know CBS pays you for your opinion. Rather you earn your money is a open question. It is obvious you are either unaware or just rather not mention the fact that the current Afghan president was a former employee of a major oil company, and put in office by the country that led the illegal invasion of Afghanistan. I think you know this, but of course need to keep your job. I on the other hand do not work for CBS News but thanks to the www I can like you voice my opinion.

No way are any real citizens of either Afghanistan or Iraq going to win any elections unless they have full approval of the United States. These two countries were not attacked so they could be ruled by people who might curb the flow of drugs, close down oil pipelines, throw western big oil out.

I saw where you mention the terror problem. Of course again I believe you know the war on terror is as phony as the war on drugs. I also know why you can not talk about it. But I can. This is all part of a master plan and like the west has done for years, they just activated soldiers of fortune, gave them the arms and money. It is like paying someone to burn down your house so you can collect the insurance.

Unless you and others with a pulpit stand up and explain this to the very lazy minded computer gamer generation, the Cheney criminals are going to get away with all of this just like those who led us into the Korean and Vietnam wars for the military industrial complex.

[pjk12354]

With all the problems we Americans have here at home.........why on earth would we think we can build nations.............we screwed up Viet nam.......now we are doing the same with Irag & Afghanistan.