U.S. Said to Plan Bigger Afghan Role, Stepping Up Aid

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 23 — In the next several weeks, the Bush administration is expected to announce a major increase in aid to Afghanistan that would greatly expand the American role in this country, senior American officials here and in Washington say.

The administration appears set to embark on a vast American-led effort at top-to-bottom rebuilding and recasting of Afghanistan, those officials said in recent days.

A senior American diplomat said President Bush, viewing the situation "like a businessman," had decided that investing more reconstruction money here now could lead to an earlier exit for American forces and save money in the long run. The United States currently spends $11 billion a year on its military forces in Afghanistan and $900 million on reconstruction aid.

But officials of aid groups here contend that the presidential election in the United States next year will be the motivating factor. They say the White House is eager to have Afghanistan appear to be a success story to voters.

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http://nytimes.com/2003/08/25/international/asia/25AFGH.html

A senior American diplomat said President Bush, viewing the situation "like a businessman," had decided that investing more reconstruction money here now could lead to an earlier exit for American forces and save money in the long run.

this must be the dumbest shit I heard this week...

"The United States currently spends $11 billion a year on its military forces in Afghanistan and $900 million on reconstruction aid."

So between military and reconstruction costs spent in Afghanistan, that's another $1 billion a month? Added to Iraq's reported $4 billion a month budget? And those costs are going to go up according to this report? If this is considered a sound business investment, I would like to know how this is supposed to pay off in the end.

The BFEE is #1 beneficiary of current expenditures! Shrub is putting on the Nation's Credit card! You and I will be paying for the rest of our natural lives!

Bush sends taxpayer money to companies who donate huge amounts of money to Bush.