Nangalem, Afghanistan, Oct. 7, 2004: An Afghan elder walks down an unpaved and rocky mountain road.

In 2004, Stars and Stripes wrote “Afghan’s legendarily inaccessible terrain has meant this country has remained unconquered for 5,000 years. Soldiers and civilians involved in rebuilding the nation say the U.S. led coalition and government must start major projects, such as roadbuilding, to ensure Afghanistan stability.”

The U.S. ended up spending some $141 billion on reconstruction in Afghanistan from 2002 - 2021 according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).