Afghanistan: September 23, 2002

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The US is trying to work out a plan that would bring more foreign peacekeepers into the country and put them in areas that are desperately in need of them. An equally difficult problem is dealing with the corruption and banditry. It is extremely difficult for returning Afghan businessmen to start up new enterprises without attracting the larcenous attention of local warlords and government officials. Even humanitarian aid groups have to deal with this kind of extortion and theft. Until something is done about the lawlessness, economic reconstruction will be limited and foreign aid reluctant to arrive in large quantities.