Afghanistan: A revolution worth saving

This time next week I'll be enjoying day two of an "all expenses paid" trip to Kabul, Afghanistan, as part of a multi-national team supporting the freely elected government through what could arguably be referred to as a political revolution.

Now, a revolution -- political, social, industrial or otherwise -- is a challenge better prepared states have difficulty pulling off without a lot of growing pains. So it's hoped this contingent of global professionals -- many if not all of whom come from democratic nations themselves -- can provide much needed expertise, a road map of sorts to help the ill prepared Afghan government avoid the many "potholes" experienced by previous nations traveling down the same path.

Surely the political reforms associated with such a drastic change in government will influence Afghan culture as well, so there's a lot more at stake than first meets the eye. It's the government's ability to provide a stable political environment, national security and economic prosperity that will determine to what extent the "revolution" succeeds and how long it takes for the average Afghan to buy into the process. Make no mistake about it, without the future support of its nation, the effort will not succeed. Any help provided by coalition advisers and troops on the ground is essential.

And Afghanistan's fledgling democracy is worth saving. A successful prosecution there can only have positive affects elsewhere in the region, leading to better security, human rights and inter-cultural exchange word wide.

This is not nation building by the western powers per se, but the effort of a fledgling democracy (Islamic Republic) to enter the 21st Century as a viable member of the global community regarding human rights, economic growth and political progress. But it'll take many baby steps to execute successfully.