REB: "I think time is running out for the insurgency. The Iraqis are starting to see they can rule themselves as a democracy. Soon, they'll be ready to take over and we can leave. Then we'll see a new age start in the Middle East. An age of freedom with Iraq and Afghanistan at the helm. I think freedom will spill over into Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Pakistan. Iran will be the tough domino to fall, but the younger generation wants freedom."

Afghanistan's only previous taste of "freedom" was during an experiment with a "liberal parliament" (1949-52) by Prime Minister Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan. Conservatives in the government and religious leaders squashed him and the country soon turned into a gigantic, broken toilet.

I think it will be years before Iraq or Afghanistan will be able to effectively helm anything. They depend too much at this point on America and the UK.

Their economies need to be stronger and corruption must be brought under control. And they will also have to withstand the anti-democratic leanings of religious leaders, both foreign and domestic.