Just how well off is Afghanistan?

With Karzai visiting the US for talks with Bush and the wingnuts talking about the Afghanistan success story (and who could forget those incredible 2 hours in country by Laura Bush?!) it's time people wake up and give Afghanistan a more serious look. Besides the anti-US protests, Afghanistan is still not what anyone would really consider a haven for womens rights and opium production has hit record highs under the new regime. It's a little too easy to blame Karzai for this problem when the US is supposed to be controlling the country and controls the pursestrings. Didn't Condi even brag about the anti-opium campaign there earlier this year?

We've seen limited success in Afghanistan but it's not exactly what anyone could honestly call a success story. Maybe we'll see another "Laura Bush to the rescue" campaign because her first visit worked out so well.