The blogs coming out of Iraq were rosy, also, as were the statements from the political and military leadership.

And we are finding out how that has turned out.

The fellow didn't say how things are in the bigger picture. What percentage of the countryside is under the control of the central government?

What percentage of women in the country will register to vote? How many are project to vote?

Will there be bloc voting from large areas? Will there be any voting at all?

And what is the nationality of Karzai's bodyguards? Are they Afghani?

I'm afraid that the feelgoods flowing out of there do not go together to give a true picture of the country. I might be wrong, but some authoritative sources say that Afghanistan is a mess, with warlords in control of much of the country, financed, once again, by opium growers.

Arf