> I would really love to have someone summarize how we "oversaw" Japan and Germany as opposed to Afghanistan.
Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany, bad as they were, still had traditions associated with modern civilization. After the war, the infrastructure was devastated, but they had what economists refer to as "human capital"-- experienced engineers, miners, farmers, architects, people in all construction trades, etc. They had the knowledge and the desire to rebuild, and with the Marshall Plan, the money to do it.
The Taliban doesn't want to build/rebuild Afganistan. They want it to remain firmly in the 7th century, albeit with modern weapons. There is certainly human capital in Afganistan, but they face a real uphill battle.
Years ago, I listened to the G. Gordon Liddy radio show. The most hilarious incident was when he had the famous political humorist Mark Russell on his show. Russell was in-studio and said something like, "Hey, you sent me this keyboard". Liddy, totally straight, said that they wanted him to play some pieces (Russell sang and played as part of his act) and since their studio was the size of a broom closet, they had to find one that fit and they sent it to Russell to make sure it was good enough.
Then Russell says something like "You know what my first thought was at getting a piano from G. Gordon Liddy?". "It was, is one of the keys wired to a stick of dynamite?". Liddy roared with laughter.
(You had to see the right cartoons as young person to appreciate this one).
Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany, bad as they were, still had traditions associated with modern civilization. After the war, the infrastructure was devastated, but they had what economists refer to as "human capital"-- experienced engineers, miners, farmers, architects, people in all construction trades, etc. They had the knowledge and the desire to rebuild, and with the Marshall Plan, the money to do it.
The Taliban doesn't want to build/rebuild Afganistan. They want it to remain firmly in the 7th century, albeit with modern weapons. There is certainly human capital in Afganistan, but they face a real uphill battle.