Abstract

LOSING THE PEACE?

To the many problems that afflict Kabul--leveled neighborhoods, broken water systems, mined fields, power outages--a new one must be added: traffic jams. During the morning rush hour, the narrow streets of the Afghan capital clog with vehicles--the white Land Cruisers favored by international donors, the black SUVs preferred by military commanders, the Soviet-era buses crammed with commuters, the yellow-and-white Toyota Corollas that serve as taxis. While endlessly annoying to those who must navigate them, Kabul's bustling streets actually seem a cause for optimism--a sign of revival after twenty-three years of war, upheaval and isolation. Yet just beneath the surface are many causes for concern. Outside the gates of the hundreds of nongovernmental organizations in Kabul stand clusters of disheveled, dispirited men desperately seeking work.