In 2006, a U.S. government overseas private contracting group approved a proposal to build a 209-room, five-star Marriott hotel and luxury apartment building across the street from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The project was intended to be sign of tribute to Muslim investors and serve as a “gateway for returning Afghan citizens who have spent time outside of their homeland.” The U.S. government jumped at the opportunity to spend more money appeasing the elites of Afghanistan and began construction in 2009 with an initial loan of $60 million. http://townhall.com/tipsheet/justinh...istan-n2251660