Day of Rage

But what happens if the government can’t govern? Analysts rightly noted that the mobs were also shouting anti-Karzai slogans yesterday. And there’s no shortage of criticism from foreign diplomats about Afghanistan’s leaders. “We’re putting a lot of money into the country, but … it can only be sustainable if you have an Afghan administration that knows where it’s going,” one diplomat told me. Another issue is that the rural population doesn’t trust the central government in Kabul, the diplomat added, because they feel things haven’t changed much for the better.

That’s a little harsh. Afghanistan has made across-the-board improvements ranging from education to health care. But the improvements have fallen short of what Western donors had expected four-plus years later. Many here hope that a larger, robust security force will allow both the national and local governments to score some successes even as they attempt to complete the ultimate aid worker catch phrase: Capacity building. It won’t be easy, but it’s certainly not hopeless. I plan on going back to the shopping mall this week and finally ride that escalator. It may the first one in Afghan history, but I’m sure it won’t be the last.

© 2006