Mark Dayton: “President Bush describes Afghanistan, the first front on the war on terrorism, as a success. In comparison to Iraq…”

“President Bush describes Afghanistan, the first front on the war on terrorism, as a success. In comparison to Iraq, perhaps it is. But if you look at Afghanistan on its own merits, the lack of progress is disheartening. In 2002, President Bush promised a 'Marshall Plan' for the country, with the goal of turning Afghanistan into a stable, democratic state. . . .Yet in nearly three years we have failed to create security, stability, prosperity or the rule of law in Afghanistan. . . . .Our efforts in Afghanistan are underfinanced and undermanned, and our attention is waning. The root of the problem is that we invaded Afghanistan to destroy something--the Taliban and Al Qaeda--but we didn't think much about what would grow in its place. . . . Afghanistan has become a collection of warlord-run fiefs fueled by a multibillion-dollar opium economy. Continuing with Mr. Thier's editorial remarks: Our Army continues to hunt insurgents in the mountains, but we have refused to take the steps necessary to secure the rest of the country, and it shows. More coalition and Afghan government soldiers and aid workers have died this year than in each of the previous two. This summer, Doctors Without Borders, which has worked in the most desperate and dangerous conditions around the world, pulled out of Afghanistan after 24 years.”