As if the job that our troops have in Afghanistan isn't hard enough, the U.S. government has ignored the problem that makes their jobs even harder, according to former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry. The problem is the nearly 50% unemployment rate. General Eikenbery said to Congress last year: "much of the enemy force is drawn from the ranks of unemployed men looking for wages to support their families."

If we know where the enemy gets its men and we know how to stop the flow, why wouldn't we? It's a no brainer. Precious little of the measly $2 billion we now spend on reconstruction is getting to the people. The country is a wreck. But you can bet the contractors are getting their profits.

Having studied what is driving the Afghan insurgency and having a close family member about to deploy, I decided I cannot sit like a bump on a log and not do anything. I am lobbying congress for the kind of reconstruction and jobs program in Afghanistan which will support our brave soldiers' efforts, not work against them. When someone like Eikenberry says in no uncertain terms, "In a campaign such as this, the construction of roads and infrastructure can be just as decisive as military actions," I think we should listen. He's telling us how to shorten this war, and how to win it with fewer lives.

He's telling us that the politicians need to do their jobs as well as our troops are doing theirs. I found that the Taliban pays $8 per day to young Afghan men to join, and it's usually the only job in town. To pay everyone in Afghanistan who needs a job $10 per day to build roads and dig water pipeline, for a whole year, would cost about a tenth of what we spend in one month in Iraq.

I'm looking for help in getting my plan for a jobs program to key congressmen. One of them is Rep. Walter Jones, who represents the families of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, North Carolina 3rd District. My plan is at http://jobsforafghans.org

Please forward the website to your congressman and ask him to get onboard. You can email your congressman here.

This plan will save lives and is a no-brainer. Although the yellow ribbons and bumper stickers we display are nice, what our guys really need is us here holding the politicians' feet to the fire to do their jobs, just as we lobby for better flak jackets or more armored humvees. Eikenberry probably said about all he can say while on active duty. But he gave us some pretty good ammo with his testimony to Congress that the insurgency and jobs are directly related.

Please help me circulate this information to other families with loved ones deployed to Afghanistan, so we can get working on other congressmen too. Thank you.

Ralph
http://jobsforafghans.org

petition to Rep. Walter Jones, (R-NC) http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/JosForAfghans

you can email me at ralphlopez2002@hotmail.com

Eikenberry testimony link
http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/FC_Afghan021307/Eikenberry_Testimony021307.pdf