thanks for your comments Little Hawk, I dont disagree with you although I should have added that when the Japanese politicians were shown the early drafts of the constitution (written by Americans which interestingly enough, included some fairly progressive rights for women thanks to one of the women writers involved) they were shocked - they didnt know what to make of it. Not they were necessarily thankful, they just expected the Americans to leave after a few years but not for them to write their constitution. And incidentally since the womens rights clause was even more advanced than what was guaranteed under the US constitution, the Americans later toned down that section.

BUt it does give something to think about, re a Post Taliban Afghanistan, namely a Marshall plan for reconstruction, with some kind of peace keeping govt) Which would provide enough stability for many educated Afghans to return (and many of them are talking about going) .

Back then, the US had the foresight to see that they didnt want to repeat the Versailles treaty and all that led to wwii.