1. What might work in Afghanistan? Perhaps a system of local self rule. The central govt can deal primarily with defense and macro economic matters but not with local economics and civil governance. For those areas centralization enhances endemic corruption.
2. You don't have a successful governance if the people aren't happy. The economy has to function free from the tax imposed by corruption. That is the level you build democracy. And we do it with a rational fair state economic security system.
3. I envision a virtual ATM for every village. Each citizen has an account. Economic support is directed to end the terrorists and heroin trade. Villages that harbor threats, the ATM's don't work. It's Afghanistan. You'll never conquer them but you can make a bargain with them.
4. There are too many people in Afghanistan to just leave them at the hands of the terrorists. 38 million people with a median age of 18. US median age is 37. That young population is our legacy. We decide how it turns out. Cutting and running isn't a plan. It's called surrender.
