It's important that we not ignore America's accomplishments in recent months. In Iraq, over 160 people were killed in 12 coordinated attacks just today. It seems that the number of wounded is in the neighborhood of 450. Today.
On the other hand, Afghanistan expects to have a record opium harvest this season. That part of the capital still controlled by the government suggests that there will be significant economic growth this year, largely due to opium.
But the first Bush experiment: Haiti, whose elected government we toppled in February of 2004 - experienced the greatest shrinkage of their economy in 2004 on record. (-2.5%) All evidence suggests that their economy will continue to shrink at a similar, if not greater, rate this year. These facts come from the CIA's "World Fact Handbook" of August, 2005. The U.S government goes on to say that Haiti is now "a major transshipment point for cocaine en route to the U.S. and Europe" and they also note "substantial money-laundering activity. Colombian narcotics trafficers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions."
In case you have difficulty believing the U.S government's statements about Haiti, some observations from Amnesty International might be instructive: after the U.S. spirited Aristide away to Africa, "law enforcement officials fled; police stations, prisons and courts were looted, burned and destroyed; local delegates at different administrative levels went on the run or were removed from office."
The result of this governmental collapse? "In the small winding alleys that stretch through the Cite Soleil, the civilian population continues to suffer grave abuses as the armed gangs kill, rape, burn and loot with impunity."
I just wish that Bush would keep to his promise not to be a nation-builder. It seems to really hurt those people who live in the nation that is "being built."
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