Sequencing is everything in SysAdmin work; delay being the greatest enemy of success

■"Delays Hurting U.S. Rebuilding In Afghanistan: Unease Growing Amid Charges of Waste," by David Rohde and Carlotta Gall, New York Times, 7 November 2005, p. A1.

■"Louisiana Lawmakers Begin Special Session on Rebuilding," by Jeremy Alford, New York Times, 7 November 2005, p. A14.

I can say the same thing about the U.S. Agency for International Development's ability to do SysAdmin work in postconflict/disaster situations that I say about the U.S. military: arguably the best in the world and it still sucks.

So many promises and plans, so little accomplished to date. Too many Afghans complaining that it's a "wasteful, slow-moving effort that benefits foreigners far more than themselves."

The main reasons? We wage this "peace" as though it really was a stable environment when, in reality, we're still working the transition from war to peace, from conflict to stability, and ultimately from Gap to Core status. USAID's planning methodologies and acquisition programs are almost as ponderous and lethargic as those of the Pentagon. In short, the sense of urgency just isn't there.

As one World Bank official on the spot puts it, "We really need to reform the external assistance in this country. We are not in the position to provide the result on the ground that the people of this country are expecting."

Key word: expecting. You wage war and people expect peace--no ifs, ands or buts.

Yes, some good successes, like five times as many kids in school, including 1.6 million girls that the Taliban kept out of school by law.

But listen to this complaint and see if it rings a bell from Baghdad (and New Orleans): "This golden period has also been this massive waste period. The efficiency has to be increased."

In short, we've haven't done so little as to lose the Afghanis yet, but their patience isn't unlimited.

Now just watch the same political dynamic unfold in Louisiana?