Last Thursday, Sen. Maria Cantwell introduced a bill she'd shopped last session that adds an economic aspect to the overall (military) U.S. strategy in Afghanistan—something we've been a little panicked about lately. 

The bill creates "Reconstruction Opportunity Zones" (ROZs) in Afghanistan and in the border territories of Western Pakistan, with the hope of sparking small businesses and snuffing out the corruption that has begun to wear away at the Afghan government.

Businesses within an ROZ would be exempt from American tariffs that currently make it difficult for Afghan entrepreneurs to export textiles and handmade goods to the United States, Cantwell's office says.

Despite  support from the Bush Administration last year, the measure didn't make it out of the Senate.

Cantwell hopes that by giving small business some breathing room, a growing business infrastructure will bring stability to the area and give Afghans living in the ROZs an alternative to the terrorist/drug trade economy that's giving the Taliban the upper hand while eating away at the Karzai regime. 

Cantwell introduced the bill last week in the Senate Finance Committee. She's already picked up two cosponsors, including Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who also helped Cantwell get her provision for electric cars into the stimulus legislation.