ISLAMABAD -- As prospects for a U.S.-led war on Iraq loom larger, Afghanistan faces an increasingly uncertain future -- more than a year after the United States intervened in that country. Many analysts believe the fate of Afghanistan may determine whether and when the major powers should intervene in other countries to tackle a security crisis and create a democratic regime.
If Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had implemented democratic reforms following the 1991 Persian Gulf War, perhaps the U.S. would not have a case for charging into what could turn out to be another expensive war.
Although Afghan President Hamid Karzai has U.S. backing, his grip on the country is tenuous and limited to a few large urban centers. Beyond these cities, the rule of regional warlords has once again grown significant as they defy the writs of the central government. Reports of inefficiency and rising corruption in Afghanistan increasingly trickle out, casting doubt on the Central Asian country's future prospects.