Dozens of UK-built schools and clinics in Afghanistan may be closed as the government cannot afford to maintain them, a confidential report revealed. They were built for a ‘hearts and minds’ campaign that cost the UK hundreds of millions of dollars.
The report, acquired by the Guardian, was commissioned by the Afghan Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and US General Charles Gurganus.
Members of the British government’s Stabilisation Unit compiled the report this year by examining the construction projects completed in Helmand province, and comparing the costs to the province’s available budget.
Since 2009, the British helped build 15 health centers and 26 new schools, and restored and reopened 86 older schools in Helmand.
“We didn’t think about how the Afghans would pay for it. But it was understandable. We wanted to show them what we could do for them, but without regard for sustainability,” one official told the Guardian. MORE thank you Bill
CRS Report for CongressPrepared for Members and Committees of CongressAfghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance,Security, and U.S. Policy
Policy Pre-September 11, 2001
Throughout 2001, but prior to the September 11 attacks, Bush Administration policy differed little from Clinton Administration policy—applying economic and political pressure on the Taliban while retaining some dialogue with it, and refraining from militarily assisting the Northern Alliance. The September 11 Commission report said that, in the months prior to the September 11 attacks, Administration officials leaned toward such a step. The report added that some officials wanted, in addition, to assist ethnic Pashtuns who were opposed to the Taliban. Other covertoptions were reportedly under consideration as well.
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