To nobody in particular,
Don’t underestimate the importance of a strong city-state when trying to rebuild a nation which has fallen into virtual chaos for decades. Even if our successes are temporarily limited to mostly Kabul, that’s a huge improvement.
When the Taliban really regroups, hopefully we will be able to fix the postion…
Anyway, here’s an interesting quote on building Afghanistan from the ground up. From the International Crisis Group’s July 2002 report on Afghanistan:
"The “Island Kabul” phenomenon has plagued Afghanistan for decades. A government dominated by elites quickly loses touch with the isolated rural areas while the provinces become disenchanted and disenfranchised. Currently, central government does not control much of the country, so steps will have to be taken to expand its reach. One, almost paradoxically, should be to decentralise certain functions.
Because Kabul cannot effectively govern most areas, it must be seen to promote local government structures that can deal with local issues. For instance, while highways must be funded and implemented at a national level, irrigation and land management are inherently local and should be handled accordingly. Similarly, while refugee return requires national planning and even foreign relations, local communities will have to deal with the real work of resettlement and reintegration.
Strengthening local administration and institutions will undoubtedly hasten transition to economic self-sufficiency. institutions such as the shura or jirga - local ad hoc councils for resolving community issues - have been used to cement local participation and decision-making in the reconstruction and development context. "