True. Japan was a successful western country before anyway. It was a united country, adapted western political system, even had a few colonies, it was a modern country. After the war, it kept its king, and Eisenhower really took the interests of Japan to his heart, the government was essentially the same with a different agenda. Normally the installed governments would work towards the interests of its patrons, not working for its people, that's when it starts to fail. I don't think Taliban would work for Afghanistan for the same reason, if they work for the benefit of their religion, not the benefit of their people, they will not succeed.