You've said before you think a stable, Western-style government can be installed and would be viable. May be.

And, as far as the "long haul" is concerned, I just don't think the US will be there. For instance, I may be mistaken but I thought I saw where on a trip to the Far East Bush said that the Americans part in the Afghan affair was to destroy the Taliban, and it was up to the international community to rebuild the country. (If there is oil or a pipeline, the US government ((American taxpayer)) will support whatever infrastructure privately owned business need, however.)

We'll see. I just don't think there is the infrastructure or interest. A GREAT book on Afghanistan which is primarily about the struggle with the Russians is "The Bear Trap". It is by the Pakistani general who was in charge of training the Afghanis and distributing weapons, and available on the 'net. Of necessity he talks about the structure of the Afghani people.

An interesting story he tells is of a group of Afghani's who were on their way to rocket the Kabul airport when it was held by the Russians. To get there they had to pass a Russian outpost. It was going to mean bloodshed.

The Afghani's sent an emissary to talk to the Russians. A compromise was reached. The Afghans would tell the Russians when they were coming. When the rocketing started, the Russians would start shooting, in the opposite direction. On their way out the Afghani's would tell the Russians they were passing, and the Russians would start shooting in the direction of the airport.

According to the general, it worked and everyone lived.

Arf