in asmuch I disliked Reagan and Thatcher at the time
they represented a shift from the old tax & spend money you dont have
keyenesian economics system. at the time you had high unemployment
and high inflation, both of which should not happen under keynesian economics.
Sure the miners gave Thatcher a fight who wouldnt for their livelyhood, but then 75% of the mines were unproductive - cost 3 billion a year to keep them going.
Why should any of the state enterprises care if they made or lost money as long as theres a public treasury purse available.

as far as afghanistan - it will probably take a generation to stabilize and rebuild and thats only as long as there is international will to continue and help.

Warlordism is a real problem there, they ultimately have to be disarmed, and replaced with a national security force.