Should We Really Be Paying This?

I recently found an article on the New York Times website entitled “Paying Afghanistan’s Bills” and I found it to be an extremely interesting read. The author is unfortunately not identified, but considering that it is the New York Times Editorial Board, I would expect that the writer or writers are credible.  It is an editorial from the New York Times and I feel that the author’s target audience in this writing is not only those who oppose our international aid efforts during a time of financial weakness back home, but simply all American tax payers. The author’s purpose is to inform the reader of the great expense that we make as a country to Afghanistan’s reconstruction, and to express a little frustration over how Afghanistan is handling their part. The author does not spare a moment to bring up the “fraud and abuse” of the foreign aid money the United States has sent, however also makes it a point to recognize that pulling out financially could make our war efforts in vain. He or she still suggests that Congress should be fully prepared withdraw if the struggling country does not make better efforts to ensure that our assistance is used properly. I believe the author to be hopeful that the situation will get better with a new president at the helm who seems determined to deter corruption. Even so, with a recent agreement to provide aid until at least 2017, and the country of Afghanistan in poverty, this isn't going to be over soon. I completely agree that things could be handled better and I hope the new president Ashraf Ghani can help show us what our investment is really worth.