an American air strike near the town. Whether the Taliban would have long respected the accord can't be known ... I'd suspect not, as Musa Qala is in the poppy-growing district. In any case, further diplomacy was derailed by American air strikes there. Steele wasn't misleading even if, probably for space reasons, he didn't give all the details. http://www.afgha.com/?q=node/2680 What to do then? There should have been more troops there from day 1 patrolling the Pakistan/Afghani border. There have to be enough troops to protect schools/women/etc...Rebuilding is the goal, but one cannot rebuild without a basic level of security. You would think so but the Americans differed, the American political establishment stated extra troops would not be needed so you must be wrong and they are right after all they are the most powerful men running the most powerful country in the world Sounds like Gaza. Will you call for a boycott of British academics or is this permissible only for the British? " Isaf's task is complicated by the presence of over 10,000 US troops who are not under Nato command but operate in the same zones, killing more Afghans than Isaf, and giving all foreign forces a bad name since no one can understand the difference." So the Brits kill Afghans, but that doesn't give foreign forces a bad name. But when the Americans - operating in the same zones - do the same, it does! Am I missing something, or is this just typical Guardian logic? But