In a word, no.

Can Afghanistan be saved?
By William M. Welch and Jim Michaels - USA Today
Posted : Wednesday Jul 21, 2010 8:13:46 EDT

KALAKAN, Afghanistan — It was nearly nine years ago that Taliban fighters burned everything standing in this dusty village on the Shomali Plain as they fled for the mountains ahead of invading U.S. and allied troops.

The United States vowed to help Afghanistan form a democratic government, raise standards of living and crush the remnants of the Islamist regime.

Safiullah, 27, a villager who like many here goes by one name, is still waiting for that to happen.

"We consider America a failed state because America could not fulfill its promises," Safiullah said after a recent meeting of village leaders here. "Instead of bringing peace and development, they brought destruction and fighting."

The Afghanistan war is at a critical juncture. The surge of 30,000 troops ordered by President Obama will be complete soon. A new commander has arrived. A full offensive against the birthplace of the Taliban — Kandahar — has been delayed.

We cannot save a people from themselves. To say otherwise is the height of hubris.

to be saved. I also believe we can still influence the Afghanis in this regard.

Apparently there are some bright spots happening over there, in regards to strategy and relations, but there is a long way to go.

Thanks for the thread, unhappycamper.