crazyfingers said:
Lets see. Bush bearly finishes in Afganistan, leaves then to swing in the breeze and then get sidetracked on Iraq.
On the contrary, Bush has done more for Afghanistan than any five other countries combined have
ever done for them.
click here for the Truth
Health
Afghanistan has improved its health care system and with a U.S commitment of $133 million planned for a three-year program, access to health services will be expanded. Successes since April 2002 include:
* Reopening Rabia Balkhi Women's Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, after a six- month renovation project supported by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense
* Vaccination of 4.3 million children against measles and treated 700,000 cases of malaria
* Revitalization of the polio eradication programs surveillance system
* Revising the national curriculum for midwives
* Completing the rebuilding of 72 hospitals, clinics and womens healthcare centers
* Planning to build or rehabilitate 550 heath care centers
Education
Afghanistan has made great strides in revitalizing the education system. Recent successes include:
* 4 million children are now enrolled in school
* Six students completed the first module of a six-month radio journalism program offered by Radio Free Europe/Radio Free Liberty in Kabul
* Eleven men and six women graduated from the University of Kabuls new Cisco Networking Academy
* Afghan staff were hired and trained to work at Radio Arman, Afghanistans new independent radio station
The U.S. is initiating a $60 million program to build or repair 1,000 schools, train 30,000 teachers, offer accelerated learning programs to 60,000 students and print 15 million textbooks for 2.9 million students, 30 percent of whom are girls.
Agriculture
Rehabilitating agriculture is key to the growth of the Afghan economy and the local farmers are working to re-establish production. The U.S. is helping by providing the following:
* $6 million to assist the Afghan people in managing the water system
* $15 million to restore irrigation systems and other essential services
* 6,100 water projects (including wells, springs, irrigation canals, urban water systems, dams, and culverts)
There have been successes in agriculture, such as, an increase of food production, an 82percent increase in wheat yields through fertilizer and improved wheat seed, the development of a crushing facility to produce and market peanut and other oils from the high-value crops, and high-value crop diversification for approximately 18,000 farmers
Infrastructure
A priority for revitalizing the economy of Afghanistan is to rebuild Afghans main transportation artery the Kabul-Kandahar-Herat road
* The U.S. has committed $180 million to the rebuilding of the road The Kabul-Kandahar portion will be completed by the end of December 2003
* The U.S. in partnership with Norway will provide $12 million to build a bridge over the river between Afghanistan and Tajikistan
Empowering Women
Afghanistan is providing renewed opportunities for women. With the support of the U.S., women are receiving education, skills and tools they need to obtain jobs and integrate into the political and public life. Programs include:
* Handicraft training
* Resource centers that includes a library, Internet room and audio visual training centers
* Widow bakeries providing bread to Afghanistans urban poor
* Educational and vocational courses
Afghan National Army
The Afghan government plans to create an army of 70,000 to defend their country. As of April 5, 2003 the ninth battalion of 716 Army recruits began basic training.
The new recruits will be trained by fellow Afghan non-commissioned officers, instead of by Coalition Partners.
.....And the Truth shall set you free.... or at least dispell biased reporting.