Okay, I stand corrected on the child killing. I apologize, but I was having a problem with how this conversation turned to Antisemitism and Kuntar.

Grumpy, I disagree. The Afghans require a lot of patience and the minimalization of foreign forces as soon as feasible, but not their removal. The biggest fear of the Afghans that I worked with was that we would Viet Nam them and leave in the middle of it before they had a chance to really establish the rule of law.

Afghans are not some bizarre incomprehensible creatures. They have a certain history, and an innate distrust of the intentions of foreigners, but they can see helpfulness and respect and be swayed by it, just like anyone else.

Here’s a kick in the pants; the Mongolians are helping to train the Afghan artillerymen on the D-30 guns. Whoda thunk that the descendants of Genghis Khan would ever we welcomed back with open arms?

I’ve seen COIN work on the ground in Afghanistan. Afghans require patience, but they are not incorrigible.