The Strategic Importance of the United States in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has made major social, economic, and political gains over the past 17 years. Unfortunately, conversations regarding Afghanistan in Washington and elsewhere often focus solely on the challenges and problems. It is true that problems lie ahead, but what is almost never discussed are the many gains that have been achieved since the turn of the century. During Taliban rule, girls were prohibited from attending school. Today, there are roughly 4 million girls in school in Afghanistan. Moreover, millions of cellphones have empowered people by connecting them to the world, GDP per capita has increased by over three-fold, and the government's capacity to collect tax revenue for its own security and development has improved significantly from almost nothing in 2002.