Nation building take time

Philadelphia Inquirer: "I must remind you again that this process is a very difficult one. Building a nation implies working hard, making sacrifices, having the ability to distinguish what can be done now and what will take time."
Were those wise words uttered by Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai? Maybe Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi? Or United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan? No, no, three times no.
Those words come from Xanana Gusmao, president of the southeast Asian nation of East Timor. Five years ago Monday, the East Timorese braved fierce attacks from Indonesian troops and voted overwhelmingly to break away from the nation that had occupied it for 24 years. The U.N. ruled East Timor until 2002, when it became an independent nation.
As the American presidential campaign proceeds, President Bush and Democratic presidential contender Sen. John Kerry ought to take heed of the struggle of East Timor during these past five years as they describe their plans for Afghanistan and Iraq.
Five years after the occupation ended in East Timor, good jobs in the public and private sectors are scarce; incomes are low. International efforts to train a national police force are ongoing. Government ministries are still being rebuilt and rely on foreign advisers. Does all of this sound familiar?
Even though East Timor has gotten much tax revenue through an oil field on its territory, it remains dependent on huge infusions of foreign aid.
A legal system is a work very much in progress. Homegrown security is wobbly enough that Timorese officials asked the U.N. to extend its mission.
Differences noted
Granted, East Timor has numerous differences from Afghanistan and Iraq. Timorese are proud of winning back independence and more patient because of it. Violence comes largely from criminals, not political insurgencies and regional militias.
Now overlay Iraq and Afghanistan. In both countries, attacks are part of the new routine of both countries. Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr may have told his rebel army to stop fighting as part of last week's agreement with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. But Sadr's troops likely will be a continuing threat as Iraq moves slowly toward elections.
Attacks over the weekend on an international security contractor in Afghanistan show the precarious situation there as the October presidential election draws nearer.
In the scheduled Oct. 13 debate on foreign policy, Bush and Kerry need to provide much more detail on how they would proceed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Either candidate would be misleading voters if the contended reconstruction is anything but a long-term effort requiring vastly greater resources than already have been given.