Nation building is a waste of time. Most countries do not have the level of inherent education needed for nation building. If the goal is to prevent a country from having the infrastructure needed to support terrorism— like Afghanistan— then the goal is met when the airstrikes destroy their infrastructure. For God’s sake — don’t rebuild! Leave them in shambles. Teach ‘em a f**ing lesson.
US keeps trying to repeat the Marshall Plan. It worked in post-war Western Europe because those societies, though physically in ruins, were basically well-educated, and scientifically and culturally advanced. Marshall Plan does not work with illiterate goat herds.
It’s defense contractors. They’ve got the lobbying juice in DC. I suspect they lobby not just for wars and nationbuilding but also AGAINST money for Americans here at home, because it would reduce the money they can get for their wars etc.