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Setting up agricultural co-ops is a highly effective way to create prosperous rural areas which also support the cities and stimulate industry.

In Iraq this was very advanced, but in Afghanistan it should start with a major national jobs program. Since wages are just tiny, huge numbers of men could be employed for a pittance, along with rations. They are taken into a rocky desert area and first dig a canal system for agriculture. Then they dig up rocks from fields to use as stone walls between sections, and finally prep the land for crops.

At that point, a little temporary housing for some of the men who will then become co-op farmers on the new, irrigated fields. They get the same treatment as the farmers did in Iraq to get them started, but with an Afghan co-op manager to make sure things run smoothly for a few years, until everybody knows how things work.

In the meantimes, as many as tens of thousands of men could be working and earning wages to support their families, while performing labor projects for their country. At a total cost of a few million dollars.

By doing this and helping to start thousands of small businesses, Afghanistan could be turned around in a much shorter length of time.