The reason that we're back there is because we didn't follow up on our commitment years ago. How much less would it have cost us do do it right the first time? We're not talking about building multimillion dollar buildings for schools like here in the US. Simple, local building style, built by the locals and supplied with the basics like a blackboard and inexpensive wooden desks, 1 cent crayons and pencils like those that are being offered this time of the year in the big box office stores. These will go a long way in changing the hearts and minds of the Afghans into accepting the US as an ally and not an enemy.

The US cannot be isolationist and be secure. It is in our best interest to Minimally support those people that are better off our friends than our enemy's. The spreading of peace in the world will be by the education of the populace around the world. Look how much China and India have improved economically and socially since the spread of education in their countries.

Yes, there is only so much money to go around and we waste a tremendous amount of it in ill conceived government programs. The waste is rampant, the programs outdated and too many people are feeding at the government trough. We could probably have free health care with all the monies saved by a zero based evaluation of the entire government. You know, if the program or spending doesn't pass the Quack test it doesn't go into the budget.

IMHO education is a major area in need to be revamped. The US has spent (thrown away) billions on improving education and test scores have declined for decades. Yet the rally cry of "we need more money" is heard all over the country. We need to change the thinking of education, starting at home with the parents expectations of their own children.