Potential Bank Failure Sign of Bigger Problems in Afghanistan

The lesson that sometimes the hardest work comes after the 'mission accomplished' posters are hung is an oft-repeated one, and one that was most recently learned in Iraq. And oh how history repeats itself.

In a developing situation that proves that, once again, America is much better at toppling regimes than building the infrastructure of society far from home, the largest bank in Afghanistan is close to failing after an old-fashioned run that would have done the cast of 'It's a Wonderful Life' proud. American leaders believe that the bank, an alternative to the loose collection of hawala money exchanges which are suspected of funneling illegal funds in the Afghan economy, is critical to the development of infrastructure in the war-torn state.

See here for more details, including some information on the complex and interconnected web of bank managers, shareholders and borrowers as well as the politicians who seemingly fall into all the other aforementioned categories.