Attston @ 48 – Not “cut and run”, rotate home for Christmas. What we are seeing is Pakistan (and Germany, France, Great Britain etc) being forced to grow up and out of the nest provided by the American taxpayers. If Pakistan really finally accepts responsibility to police the “Territories”, America will not need troops in Afghanistan. The decisive repudiation of Putin in yesterday’s election http://tinyurl.com/7rj8cep is another very positive step in the right direction. Putin couldn’t get even a simple majority despite using all his dirty tricks; intimnidation, limiting choices and stuffing the ballot boxes.

So lessen the logistical demands by reducing the force. Bring them home for Christmas and give Pakistan a few weeks to prove they have grown up. Maybe you’ll never have to rotate them back! That certainly would please the kids back home and make Santa Claus smile!

Where is that guy who asked me about NJ Nets tickets? I have an idea for him too. The NBA season is set to open on Christmas Day. So at game time darken the house, and then put this chant on the Jumbotron “San-ta-Claus, San-ta-Claus”. Notice the echo of the “Miracle on Ice”, U-S-A. U-S-A?

Then have the man himself appear and sing the fourth stanza of the National anthem.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!