Afghanistan = Failure in Progress

[ZenGum]

Okay, who hacked Merc's account?

Most of Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan are dominated by a culture of self-serving corruption and brutality. It would take a multi-generational effort by world powers to turn it even half into the sort of semi-modern semi-democratic state we'd like to see there.

Not only do people (here) not want to put in that effort, I'd say that effort is much more badly needed on the bigger, global stage. The one with China, India and Russia on it, not Fubaristan and such. Don't bleed out on a sideshow when the main game is underway.

Get the place temporarily stable and slide out with what dignity we can.