If they can't take even the most trivial steps to solve their own problems why should we care? Our diplomatic efforts aren't going to do squat. Mass developmental handicap is an inherent part of what makes a dictatorship successful.

War will not work. Politics will not work. Terrorism will not work. Negotiation will not work. There is only one thing that will work. And it will take about 25 years to fix the problems in these countries:

Compulsory education of all the children (boys AND girls) in these countries, starting with kindergarden through college. That should be the one demand that WE make in providing them with ANY economic, political, or diplomatic support.

If we go this route, then the industrialized nations will have to be ready to accept and meet the competition face-to-face, when in 25 years these countries become economic powers in their own right.