Today seems like a good day to re-recommend Rumsfeld's last public snowflake. It was never going to be an easy mission. Not all the news about Afghanistan is encouraging. And yet, for all of the challenges the Afghan people face, there are many promising indicators. Building a new nation is never a straight, steady climb upward. Today can sometimes look worse than yesterday -- or even two months ago. What matters is the overall trajectory: Where do things stand today when compared to what they were five years ago? In Afghanistan, the trajectory is a hopeful and promising one.
A few Afghanistan news tidbits: Kiwi Troops Destroy Opium In Afghanistan They didn't actually seize it, but they did a really good job burning it.
Afghanistan mission worthwhile, Clinton tells luncheon audience Bill Clinton today affirmed the need for American and Canadian forces to stay in Afghanistan. Clinton said that it had been a "serious mistake" for the United States to invade Iraq at the same time that it also had troops involved in Afghanistan. Winning in Afghanistan is "far, far more important, in terms of protecting Canada and America against terror," than Iraq, he said.
I'm sure that sounds snappy at a luncheon, but exactly how do you "win" Afghanistan? At least Iraqis can sell oil. It seems to me the best you can hope for is to stave off failure indefinitely. Setting those poppies on fire is about as productive as a flag burning protest. What are we doing to encourage a stronger civil society in Afghanistan? At least Pakistani newspapers make room for Britney. Are you going to see that in the Afghan press? Afghanistan: Five Years Later, By Donald H. Rumsfeld | 
