With the whole world with us after 9/11, what might Bush have done in Afghanistan to succeed?

Question

Would the rest of the world have come into Afghanistan to help rebuild and restore infrastructure damaged by US bombing, Soviet invasion and occupation and years of neglect?

Would US voters and tax payers have supported massive amounts of financial aid to rebuild Afghanistan after 9/11? After all, many claim we have neglected our own schools and health care facilities so would people have been willing to spend money so far away when funds have been so slow in reaching New Orleans?

In retrospect, a peace offensive with massive aid, armies of peace corps workers and nation builders would have been less costly and more successful.

Without calling for people admitting mistakes is there anything positive to be learned from what has happened in the last six years?

This is based on the grim news from Afhanistan in the past week about Nato troops being stretched too thin; The Taliban resurgence and making treaties with Pakistan; War lords regaining power and the 60% growth in the opium poppy cutivation and trade; Karzai's weakness and corruption and the growing lawlessness even in Kabul.

Clearly didn't ask this question as I intended. Only asking: What after invading Afghanistan and taking out the Taliban?

Answer 1

You are correct - it would have cost less - and benefited us greatly if we had finished OBL and helped rebuild Afghanistan. Afghanistan is one of the few countries that really wanted to be our friend, making nation-rebuilding possible, and unlike Iraq where they don't like us.

Bush promised the Afghans that we wouldn't bail out on them like we did the last time - creating a vacuum that provided a breeding ground for OBL and AQ.

Unfortunately for them, they believed him. We left Afghanistan hanging and now the Taliban is stronger than ever and heroin production is at record levels - providing more money for terrorists.

With a track record like this, why should any other country believe us when we say "trust us, we're here to help?"

If we learn anything, it should be to live up our word - fully.

Answer 2

With the rest of the world's support, we could have rebuilt the infrastructure in Afghanistan together. If we had started immediately after the invasion of Afghanistan, we would still be there, but we would be there as a partner with the rest of the world. We could have rebuilt Afghanistan, rid the country of the Taliban for good, and probably caught Osama bin Laden. Instead, we are basically on our own in Iraq, which is one reason that we are failing there.

Rebuilding Afghanistan would have cost American taxpayers less than the cost of rebuilding Iraq is. I feel there would have been much more support for rebuilding Afghanistan than there is for rebuilding Iraq.

Answer 3

Bush could have succeeded by leaving Iraq alone for the time being. Everyone supported the war on terror in Afghanistan, but when he defied the UN and invaded Iraq, heads shook and so did loyalties.

If he would have stuck to being at war with just one country at a time, the UN would be backing us, other countries would have more soldiers to send to aide us, and Bush's approval ratings would be higher.

Answer 4

To succeed

Never go there as a military force.

Afghanistan did not attack the TT's Ben Laden did.

The world was all upset with the Taliban all that summer of 2001 for blowing up historic landmarks. Remember the Buddha's that got torn down.

Do you have any idea how many college professors go on field trips paid for by publicly funded grants.

Professors use research as a means to further their trists with the Coed's

Attacking Afghanistan was all about fat lazy college professors getting laid.

Go big Red Go

Answer 5

More successful? Like all the aid in Africa? The Taliban was a corrupt government any aid that was given (Reagan, Bush(41) and Clinton all had aid packages to Afghanistan) never even made it to where it needed to be.

Yes, we have learned that friends you buy are not true friends and will become your foe once a higher bidder enters the room.

Answer 6

Get out of Iraq and go into Afghanistan and do what should have been done in the first place , like you said . If Bush would do that his ratings would go higher . Don't know if other countries would go along with us now .

Answer 7

In terms of afganistan... nothing new..
Though such a peace offensive would have kept alqada in
Afganistan and made that effor teven more bloody.
And potentially worse than IRAQ effort.

We have neglected our own schools for decades ever since the feds got involved.

as far as hospitals, thats the fault of illegal immigration.
Hospitals are closing in a lot of places specifically due to problems paying for the healthcare for illegal immigrants.