Like it or not, Iraq is an on-going affair. Afghanistan has pretty much develved into yesterday's news, and thus, a non-media event.

This is the nature of the news, and in terms you will relate to, is market driven. The market being the audience. As Walt Kelly had Pogo say, "we have met the enemy, and he is us."

Before you attempt to credit Afghanistan as some sort of iconographic success to hang your hat on, note there is no success in the tribal areas, they are avoided and being left to time to effect the cure. The urban areas have been a success. Hopefully they will not be challenged by the tribal leaders.

Publius