Walking In Wuhan

Poppy is the perfect crop for Afghani farmers. It's resistant to the harsh desert climate and provides an income that dwarfs wheat and other crops. It also is also used to make a large percentage of the world's heroin supply. Under the Taliban, farmers had both been allowed to grow the crop, and then later banned from harvesting the crop when the Taliban sought to curry legitimacy from foreign governments.

So when the United States invaded Afghanistan following September 11, a major portion of quelling upheaval was providing alternative employment for poppy farmers. Author Joel Hafvenstein arrived in the country in charge of creating jobs for farmers in the volatile Southern parts of Afghanistan. The book chronicles his successes and failures working for a USAID contractor. He avoids attacks by Taliban and goes into detail about navigating the complex politics and areas controlled by warlords. In the end, the problem isn't a lack of economic opportunity, but a security vacuum.

I found the parts particularly interesting where Hafvenstein talks about the relationship between USAID -- a non-governmental organization in theory -- and the military. In Sri Lanka, we interviewed members of USAID, whose offices were housed in the U.S. Embassy. In Afghanistan, USAID employees were protected by Army convoys, blurring the line between charity and military. If you're looking for a first-hand look at the difficulties in rebuilding Afghanistan, definitely check out this book.