Can America pull off a triple play? Is it possible for the beleaguered nations of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan to become beacons of success with the help of U.S. foreign intervention?

• Author: Veneman, Ann
• Position: Worldview

IRAQ, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan are three very distinct countries operating under different and difficult--circumstances. During a recent visit, we bad the opportunity to see their local markets and many food and agriculture projects that finally are under way. We met with professors at the College of Agriculture in Baghdad and learned about their efforts to rebuild an institution that has been left without much support over the last 30 years. We also spoke with farmers in Northern Iraq to hear firsthand their issues and concerns.

Moreover, we looked into a variety of projects designed to assist women in these countries, including programs that use U.S. food aid in Afghan bakeries to help provide employment as well as low-cost food for impoverished families. We visited a health center that was teaching women basic skills in health care and child-rearing. Most important, we saw how things have changed for the better since Afghanistan has been liberated.

Overall, we found that citizens in all of these countries are tired of conflict, abuse, repression, insecurity, and neglect. They are eager to build better lives for themselves and thankful for the opportunity for stability and normalcy.

Agricultural importance

If there is one common theme we took away from this trip, it is that agriculture plays an extremely vital role in the economic and social lives of a majority of these people. However, several sectors are suffering not only from hostilities, but serious neglect, whether it is underinvestment, ineffective policies, or exploitation. Enormous potential exists for improvement. Everything is needed, but careful selection of assistance is advised. The end result could pay huge dividends, as American efforts to instill democratic principles and market economies are making headway.

The horrendous conditions found in these countries were a long time in the making and cannot be changed overnight, although efforts are progressing. These are three nations undergoing massive transition, each in vastly different ways and from varying starting points, but all headed to a common point of a pluralistic society with a market driven economy.

Uzbekistan begins from long decades of repression and economic mismanagement, but with a decent infrastructure and an educated population. New technology, capital investment, and improved economic policies are its challenges.

Afghanistan is ravaged from decades of Soviet repression and exploitation, factional...