--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem right now, which I've been…" description: "\"The problem right now, which I've been pointing out very bluntly to American officials in Washington, is that the U.S. has no economic presence in Afgh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/ahmed-rashid-19311_afghanistan_the-problem-right-now-which-i-ve-been-po_2382547.jpg" --- # The problem right now, which I've been pointing out very… ![“The problem right now, which I've been pointing out very bluntly to American officials in Washington, is that the U.S. has no economic presence in Afghanistan. The Afghans can't point and say, "Oh, the Americans built that road. They built that telecommunications facility. They built that…” quote by Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/ahmed-rashid-19311_afghanistan_the-problem-right-now-which-i-ve-been-po_2382547.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/ahmed-rashid-19311_afghanistan_the-problem-right-now-which-i-ve-been-po_2382547.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/ahmed-rashid-19311_afghanistan_the-problem-right-now-which-i-ve-been-po_2382547.jpg) > “The problem right now, which I've been pointing out very bluntly to American officials in Washington, is that the U.S. has no economic presence in Afghanistan. The Afghans can't point and say, "Oh, the Americans built that road. They built that telecommunications facility. They built that electricity powerhouse," because nothing has been built so far.” [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The U.S. lacks visible infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, undermining its economic influence. **In simple terms:** No US-built roads or power. Key Takeaway Build tangible projects. Themes politics development infrastructure Mood analytical concerned Type journalistic critical When to use this quote - aid programs - military operations - local entrepreneurship - government planning Key Concepts economics foreign policy Questions to Reflect On - How can economic presence be increased? - What projects would benefit locals most? A Different Perspective Security alone cannot replace economic development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Telecommunications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telecommunications/) ## Related quotes > [The idea of a permanent U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, as opposed to an economic presence, is going to create a new wave of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/the-idea-of-a-permanent-u-s-military-presence-in-afghanistan-as/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [To give you an idea how slowly we are leaving Afghanistan, Afghans don't refer to us anymore as 'infidel crusaders.' They refer to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/to-give-you-an-idea-how-slowly-we-are-leaving-afghanistan-afghans-don/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It is not surprising that most Pakistanis do not support America's bombardment of Afghanistan. The Afghans are neighbours on the brink of starvation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/it-is-not-surprising-that-most-pakistanis-do-not-support-america-s/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [Keeping a relatively small, predominantly U.S. Special Forces presence in Afghanistan to continue to train the Afghan army past December 2016 is a wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/keeping-a-relatively-small-predominantly-u-s-special-forces-presence/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Our presence in Afghanistan is not worth the price of any more American lives or treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/our-presence-in-afghanistan-is-not-worth-the-price-of-any-more/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I think it is a very important step in the right direction that the Afghans have taken over responsibility for the security in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/i-think-it-is-a-very-important-step-in-the-right-direction-that-the/) [Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/) > [Smart businesses do not look at labor costs alone anymore. They do look at market access, transportation, telecommunications infrastructure and the education and skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-napolitano/smart-businesses-do-not-look-at-labor-costs-alone-anymore-they-do/) [Janet Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-napolitano/) > [All of us salute the ITU's excellent work in the telecommunications space. It has set standards which encourage investment in infrastructure and ensure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/all-of-us-salute-the-itu-s-excellent-work-in-the-telecommunications/) [Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/) > [An efficient telecommunications network is the foundation upon which an information society is built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-abu-ghazaleh/an-efficient-telecommunications-network-is-the-foundation-upon-which/) [Talal Abu-Ghazaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-abu-ghazaleh/) > [The fact that other countries spy on their own people or spy on each other does not address the fact that the US is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesselyn-radack/the-fact-that-other-countries-spy-on-their-own-people-or-spy-on-each/) Jesselyn Radack > [Today, in the Twenty-First Century, an age of jet aircraft, personal computers, wireless telecommunications, laser surgery, and incipient space travel, the mentality with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-reisman/today-in-the-twenty-first-century-an-age-of-jet-aircraft-personal/) [George Reisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-reisman/) > [When I got out of undergrad, I had a degree in theater and telecommunications. My first job, I was a news reporter for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/when-i-got-out-of-undergrad-i-had-a-degree-in-theater-and/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Advances in the technology of communications have proved an unambiguous threat to totalitarian regimes: Fax machines enable dissidents to bypass state-controlled print media; direct-dial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/advances-in-the-technology-of-communications-have-proved-an/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Trying to get a common set of trading rules right down to very simple things like paperless customs arrangements and telecommunications services and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-robb/trying-to-get-a-common-set-of-trading-rules-right-down-to-very-simple/) Andrew Robb > [I urge telecommunications regulators to develop a commercial strategy for delivering effective access to the continent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shuttleworth/i-urge-telecommunications-regulators-to-develop-a-commercial-strategy/) [Mark Shuttleworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shuttleworth/) ## More by Ahmed Rashid > [You have a lot of suspicion from the neighbors of Afghanistan about U.S. intentions. Iran is already, to some extent, trying to undermine the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/you-have-a-lot-of-suspicion-from-the-neighbors-of-afghanistan-about-u/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [America does not hold to the colonial tradition. America came, liberated Afghanistan from the Taliban and al-Qaida, came to an arrangement with Hamid Karzai,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/america-does-not-hold-to-the-colonial-tradition-america-came/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [The idea of a permanent U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, as opposed to an economic presence, is going to create a new wave of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/the-idea-of-a-permanent-u-s-military-presence-in-afghanistan-as/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [“Afghanistan is not only the mirror of the Afghans: it is the mirror of the world. 'If you do not like the image in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/afghanistan-is-not-only-the-mirror-of-the-afghans-it-is-the-mirror-of/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [Pashtun nationalism is reasserting itself. Its political history spans several hundred years. The Pashtuns are angry at the Americans because, one, they're still being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/pashtun-nationalism-is-reasserting-itself-its-political-history-spans/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [There is no way the Americans are going to be able to carry out a full scale war against Iraq and at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/there-is-no-way-the-americans-are-going-to-be-able-to-carry-out-a/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [Our Pakistan elites are spoiled by permanent foreign aid and therefore find it difficult to change course. Pakistan needs someone who stands up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/our-pakistan-elites-are-spoiled-by-permanent-foreign-aid-and/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [“Within a few short, dramatic months Afghanistan had been catapulted into the centre of the intensified Cold War between the Soviet Union and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/within-a-few-short-dramatic-months-afghanistan-had-been-catapulted/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [I am confident that there are hedge funds, banks or investment companies that could allocate five percent of their portfolios for risky investments. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/i-am-confident-that-there-are-hedge-funds-banks-or-investment/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [The Pashtuns feel discriminated against by the Americans because they supported the Taliban and the war is still going on in their region with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/the-pashtuns-feel-discriminated-against-by-the-americans-because-they/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [I think within a year or so, perhaps, if 9/11 had not happened, in Afghanistan would have been a very broad-based general uprising against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/i-think-within-a-year-or-so-perhaps-if-9-11-had-not-happened-in/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [We should remember that the Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. Of course, many of them did support the Taliban. But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/we-should-remember-that-the-pashtuns-are-the-largest-ethnic-group-in/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [What everyone underestimated was the acute unpopularity of the Taliban, even in the Pashtun areas. People like myself were saying the Taliban would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/what-everyone-underestimated-was-the-acute-unpopularity-of-the/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [The Soviets held to the tradition of colonialism. They raped the country and killed many people. But they also built dams, electrical power plants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/the-soviets-held-to-the-tradition-of-colonialism-they-raped-the/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [ I met a lot of the senior Taliban, and I asked them precisely \[about Mullah Omar\]. The most common answer was he is humble.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/i-met-a-lot-of-the-senior-taliban-and-i-asked-them-precisely-about/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) [Explore all 33 Ahmed Rashid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) ## More Afghanistan quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem right now, which I've been pointing out very bluntly to American officials in Washington, is that the U.S. has no economic presence in Afghanistan. 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