« Afghanistan's "land mafia" | Main | Ahmed Rashid on Washington's Pakistan plan »

September 11, 2007

Don Rumsfeld, microlender to Afghanistan?

Rumsfeld_karzaiDonald Rumsfeld's first major interview since leaving office, on the newsstands in GQ next month, dubs Afghanistan "a big success" and announces, among other things, that he's starting a foundation that will focus on post-graduate fellowships, a lecture series, post-Soviet reform, and -- you guessed it -- microlending in Afghanistan.

"The third thing is, we're interested in microenterprise. Most of the poor countries of the world—I shouldn't say most—a number of the poorer countries of the world have corrupt governments, and so when nations help nations, a lot of that money doesn't end up going to the people; it gets stuck in graft and corruption." He explains that before he came back to government, he worked on microloans with some outfit doing work in India and was impressed by it. He wants to do it in Afghanistan.

Interesting: Rumsfeld has discovered that graft and corruption are an impediment to Afghanistan's future. Has it crossed his mind, even fleetingly, that the policies he pushed so hard for -- a light engagement, the empowerment of warlords, an allergy to statebuilding and rule of law programs -- permitted the culture of impunity that allows Afghanistan's kleptocrats to flourish?  Am I being too harsh here?

Below is another excerpt from the interview (about the Pentagon and its limitations...) MORE

“In a very real sense, the American military cannot lose a battle, they can't lose a war. On the other hand, they can't win the struggle themselves. It requires diplomacy, it requires economic assistance, it requires a range of things that are well beyond the purview of the Department of Defense…In terms of what's going on in Iraq or Afghanistan today, what the Department of Defense is doing is working. What isn't working is the diplomatic side. The government of Iraq has not been able to find ways to bring the elements of that country together sufficiently that they can create an environment hospitable to, uh, whatever one wants to call their evolving way of life, a democracy or a representative system or a freer system. Look at Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, 28 million people are free. They have their own president, they have their own parliament. Improved a lot on the streets."

All your theories worked there, in other words.

"It's been a big success! The Iraqi government has not been successful as yet. And, uh, it's gonna take some time and some effort."

When do you see it resolved?

"I'm not gonna get into that."

Posted by Carl Robichaud on September 11, 2007 at 04:37 PM in Investment, Politics, Rule of Law, U.S. Policy |

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341d843653ef00e550713be88833

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Don Rumsfeld, microlender to Afghanistan?:

Comments

cheap priston tale Gold

It is the priston tale Gold which makes me very happy these days,
my brother says priston tale Money is his favorite games gold he likes,
he usually buy priston tale Gold to start his game
most of the time he will win the cheap priston tale Gold back

Posted by: cheap priston tale Gold | January 19, 2009 at 10:35 PM

cheap 2moons gold

It is the 2moons dil which make me very happy these days, my brother says 2moons gold is his favorite games gold he likes

, he usually buy some 2moon dil to start his game and most of the time he will win the buy 2moons dil back and give me some cheap 2moons gold to play the game.

Posted by: cheap 2moons gold | February 24, 2009 at 02:43 AM

Rom Gold

Do you know Rom Gold? I like it.
My brother often go to the internet bar to buy Runes of Magic Gold and play it.
After school, He likes playing games using these Runes of Magic money with his friends.
I do not like to play it. Because I think that it not only costs much money but also spend much time. One day, he give me many buy Rom Goldand play the game with me.
I came to the bar following him and found cheap Runes of Magic Goldwas so cheap. After that, I also go to play game with him.

Posted by: Rom Gold | March 14, 2009 at 05:49 AM

lynn

Today, you can walk into Laptop parts many brick-and-mortar Laptop Acer AC Adapter electronics and computers retailers Gateway Laptop keyboard and expect to find laptop bargains. Toshiba Laptop keyboard They are just about everywhere. Dell Laptop AC Adapter Prices for bargain laptops have become so low that walking out of a store with one for yourself and Liteon Laptop AC Adapter and one for a friend is even an option. Laptop LCD AC Adapter To save the most money Acer Aspire 1200 AC Adapter when buying a bargain laptop Liteon PA-1131-08 AC Adapter or notebook Gateway PA-1650-01 AC Adapter
Liteon PA-1650-01 AC Adapter
Toshiba Laptop AC Adapter
Toshiba PA3467U-1ACA AC Adapter
Original Gateway PA-1650-01 AC Adapter
Toshiba PA3469U-1ACA AC Adapter
Acer PA-1650-02 AC Adaptercomputer, though, Delta PA-1650-02 AC Adapter going through a major online retailer Liteon PA-1131-08 AC Adapter is the best way to save the most money. Dell Laptop battery that is very important.

Posted by: lynn | April 26, 2009 at 01:23 AM

asdf

We are sure that you will. 2GB MP3 PLAYER get really cheap wow gold by an instant. 4GB MP3 PLAYER way of deliveryJust place your order. canon digital camera to buy wow gold here and you will . cheap cell phones get your desired gold wow. cheap wow gold in a short whilein wow. cheap wow gold the gold is used by players to. dvd player repair virtual items. eve isk ,power leveling accounts. mp3 player buy pets,mount,synthesis equipment and so on. mp3 players There are many different ways that you can easily make the gold. portabel mp3 player buy wow gold is a quickly waysif. portable mp3 player you want to buy some weaponry. portable mp3 players , you need wow goldSuccessful . wow farmers make between 80-200g during a farming session. wow you can buy more wow gold from . wow gold us in one minuteSelect your account's realm. wow gold Alliance or Horde. wow gold then you can buy the cheapest wow goldChoose the amount of the wow gold you need and checkout. wow gold but wow gold is very easygamesavor offers. wow gold cheapest wow gold on all wow servers. wow gold kaufen cheap wow gold can be sent 24/7Buy gold from us is a fast. zubehoer mp3 player and safe way to get rich in the world of warcraft.

Posted by: asdf | June 10, 2009 at 03:03 AM

asdf

Professinal and lecteur mp3efficent service are waiting for you. 8GB MP3 PLAYER, Start your journey on gamesavor. clé cd. We are a group of dedicated players. gold wow, who have come together to provide wow gold and other game goodsyou can find the most cheapest. mp3 player. price for these seviceWe have a number of security for the cheapest gold. wow acc, Due to our large wow. wow authentication. gold stock on World of Warcraft-US servers we can guarantee instant . wow card. & complete delivery of your . wow compte. wow GoldIf we can not deliver the wow gold in limitative time. wow europe, we will refund your payment. wow gold, please . wow gold. do contact our customer service as soon as possible . wow gold. after you purchased for payment . wow gold kaufen.. confirmation, and it will make your wow gold delivered faster. wow oro, Welcome to our wow gold store. wrath of lich king, Here you can find. a reliable wow gold provider.

Posted by: asdf | June 10, 2009 at 03:18 AM

asdf


Choose the amount of the wow gold you need and checkout. 1GB MP3 PLAYER, but wow gold is very easygamesavor offers cheapest wow gold on all wow servers. 1GB MP3 PLAYER, cheap wow gold can be sent 24/7. 1gb mp3 players. Buy gold from us is a fast and safe way to get rich . 2GB MP3 PLAYER. in the world of warcraft. 60 70 wow, Come on we have fixed the. best mp3 player. best price so you can buy cheap . burning crusade key, wow gold here. buy mp3 player. Our professional fellows work hard . buy mp3 players, and strive to make the price of wow gold lowestJoin us . cheap mp3 player, and get your cheapest wow gold now. cheap mp3 players. You will enjoy our first-class. mp3 mp4 player. service and save more at . mp3 player 2gb video, our wow gold online store. mp3 player wholesale. We have a success experience. mp4 player, to sell cheap wow gold for years. mp4 players, we have available stock. world of warcraft authentication keys, on most of the servers. world of warcraft key. We have been a paypal . world of warcraft keys. confirmed seller of wow gold for yearsit is securest and safest to buy cheap wow gold from usGold is the main currency in world of warcraft.

Posted by: asdf | June 10, 2009 at 03:28 AM

asdf


Do not hesitate! Just place your order . burning crusade cd key on our site and we will send wow gold to you in a short time and you can get . burning crusade key the wow gold very safelywish you can enjoy your wonderful. key wotlk wow life!buy cheap wow gold. lich king gamesavor is your first choice. lich wow We are a professional wow gold seller with plenty of wow gold stored. lich wow in our online wow gold shopDo not hesitate. need wow ! Just place your order on our site and we will send. world of warcraft cd keys wow gold to you in a short time and you can get. wow burning crusade key the wow gold very safelywish you can enjoy. wow cd key your wonderful wow life!buy cheap wow gold, gamesavor is your. wow key first choiceWe are sure that you will. wow keys get really cheap wow gold by an instant way of delivery. wow of the lich king Just place your order to buy wow gold. wow wrath of lich king here and you will . wrath king get your desired gold wow in a short whilein wow. wrath lich king the gold is used by players to repair virtual items. wrath of lich king power leveling accounts buy pets,mount,synthesis equipment and so on. wrath of the lich There are many different ways . wrath of the lich king wow that you can easily make the gold buy wow gold is a quickly ways.

Posted by: asdf | June 10, 2009 at 03:37 AM

YY

Tiffany silver jewelry based Tiffany on sale, classic or modern stylish quality jewelry for both women and men. Our online store now

is using McAfee security technology to protect our customers from identity theft, credit card fraud, spam and malicious software.

Also we have developed some return and exchange policy for customer service purposes.Shopping online at Tiffany on sale mean
Fashion World says most fashionable brands like Louis Vuitton,Gucci,Chanel,

href=http://www.hiugg.com/>Gucci Shoes World talks about News about Gucci Shoes,Ugg shoes.
Find Ugg information at Ugg Boots News , Chanel Jewelry

Shopping for Chanel Jewelry and Gucci Jewelry, Jewelry Brands is the best place to

comparison blog for Jewelry Brands.
From Uk Tiffany Jewellery ,you can get how to Pick the Tiffany Jewellery,

href=http://www.tiffany4jewellery.co.uk/> Tiffany World is heading for Tiffany Jewellery Web site Comparing.

href=http://www.hieyewear.com/> Sunglasses and Share jewelry
Fashion World says Handbags,Shoes and Jewelry fashion style. Find

href=http://www.dglasses.com/> Latest Fashion about Lv,Gucci,Tiffany,Chanel. Tiffany

Jewelry is a Tiffany Jewelry & Jewellery Guide Blog, Louis Vuitton online blog for

most valueable information, Handbags Mall tells about louis vuitton handbags,Gucci

handbags,.etc.

Posted by: YY | July 22, 2009 at 04:59 AM

cheap jordan shoes

Thank you for your article, the contents of the following which you will like.Cheap Jordan shoes,UGG Boots, Nike SB,Tiffany Rings, Nike Dunk,Tiffany Jewelry for Sale.Who is also a useful information: Nike Dunk SB,Nike SB for Sale ,Gucci Shoes,Christian Louboutin,Bose headphones.

Posted by: cheap jordan shoes | July 23, 2009 at 05:41 AM

vivienne

Yes,great.I love the article, I have the same belief with you,so let me introduce the area to you.Now vivienne Jewellery become more and more popular within all kind of people. Juicy couture is a kind of juicy jewelry . It won a good reputation. Vivienne westwood Jewellery often held its regular discount activities,such as vivienne Jewellery ,fashion juicy jewelry and fashion vivienne westwood jewellery earrings so on.In these activities vivienne westwood sale got great success. juicy couture consists of four main aspects, vivienne westwood necklaces and vivienne westwood bracelets,fashion vivienne westwood ,vivienne westwood jewellery.

vivienne westwood series are worthwhile than other fashion jewelry coutures. They have a lot of fashion vivienne jewellery,for example fashion vivienne westwood necklaces, fashion vivienne earrings, fashion vivienne bracelets , vivienne westwood rings and vivienne westwood on sale. Vivienne jewellery is a new jewellery brand,it include all fashion jewellery ,such as westwood jewellery , vivienne westwood necklaces, vivienne westwood jewellery ,vivienne westwood and fashion vivienne westwood and vivienne westwood sale so on .We assure you of our best services at all times.

Posted by: vivienne | July 24, 2009 at 04:22 AM

designer handbags
designer handbags In online designer handbags store, many handbags for sale and sale discount bags. There the customers can purchase chanel 2.55 , prada canvas and Louis Vuitton Monogram Speedy 30.Because these handbags are the best ones there. Except for these, bagsvendor.com is a handbags sale online retail. For Chanel designer handbags, there are chanel a29500, chanel a31505, chanel logo tote, chanel a26710, chanel 2.55 pink and special one(black chanel bag with white logo). As we know chanel is a famous brand, so bagsvendor.com has many item for this chanel designer handbags. For Gucci designer handbags, we can find gucci sacking, gucci 209600 and pink chanel logo. Oh, sorry, this pink chanel logo is for chanel. And also we find other brands designer handbags, such as coach(coach 10125, prada jacquard canvas, coach 10619); fendi(fendi 2237). Thanks for everyone purchasing designer handbags from bagsvendor.com. And remember that we offer free shipping service. Thanks...

Posted by: designer handbags | August 08, 2009 at 01:55 PM

Next »

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Posted by:  | 

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment