Building democracy on the cheap

"Regional Planning: U.S. to Present Revised Program for Democracy in Mideast; Skepticism Is Widespread," by Steven R. Weisman, New York Times, 13 May, p. A12.

"Economic Scene: Afghans come up with an aid plan of their own design," by Jeff Madrick, NYT, 13 May, p. C2.

The Bush Administration is going to re-present its Greater Middle East Initiative, hoping to get some buy-in from the Group of 8 in their June meeting at Sea Island, GA. It will call for ìincreased engagement by the West to promote democracy, womenís rights, education, political reforms, free markets and investments, an independent judiciary and media, and greater efforts to crack down on corruption.î

The proposal also calls for some ministerial body to be created by G-8 to interact with the Middle East on all these goals.

All well and good, say I. And I like that this is coming from the G-8 vice the ineffective UN. But this kind of transformation canít be done on the cheapóespecially following a regime takedown.

According to the Center on International Cooperation at New York University, Afghanistan, the first targeted rebuilding job in the Global War on Terror, has only receiving $67 of aid per every man, woman and child since the end of the war there. That compares to $814 per person in Kosovo during their rebuilding period of í99-01 and $249 per person in Bosnia from í95-97. Even Haiti ($74 from í95-98 and Rwanda ($114 from í94-96) got a better deal from the Core.

As the author of the second article says, ìthe neglect also sadly reflects the refusal of rich nations to undertake costly, multifaceted solutions to long-term, complex problems.î And yet, ìAs we are learning in Iraq, military security and economic development in war-ravaged nations are inextricably linked. The responsibility, however expensive, cannot be neglected or wished away.î

So not only are the boys never coming back, but weíll need to send large amounts of aid is we hope to shrink the Gap by taking out its worst security sinkholes.