U.S. Aid To Afghanistan Will Continue After The Departure Of U.S. And NATO Forces

A U.S. Marine provides security during a joint patrol with Afghan local police outside Camp Dwyer in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 21, 2014. The Marines are assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Eric S. Wilterdink

U.S. Aid Plan Seeks to Shield Afghanistan From End to War Economy -- New York Times/Reuters

KABUL — The Obama administration will unveil on Monday a package of aid initiatives it hopes will help Afghanistan, still one of the world's poorest countries after a dozen years of massive international aid efforts, shield itself from the departure of foreign troops and an expected drop in assistance.

The announcement from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) of three new development initiatives worth almost $300 million is part of a U.S. effort to ensure that Afghanistan, as its 'war economy' ends, won't slide backwards into greater poverty or reverse gains made over the last 12 years in health, education and other areas.

"The question is, what can we do now to make sure Afghanistan is as healthy, sustainable and feasible as possible going forward," Larry Sampler, the agency's chief official for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said in an interview.

Read more ....

My Comment: $300 million in aid for a country as large as Afghanistan that is in the middle of a brutal civil war and is now facing the withdrawal of U.S./NATO security forces .... this is all fantasy.