the Russians. "They treated us much better," according to people spoken to in one Spiegel reportage. The Taleban have just had one of their worst months in the movement's entire history. They lost their operation commander and are riven with splits and paranoia. In Pakistan, a conflict has broken out between Uzbek Taleban and the local Pashtun tribes. So of course, now is the perfect moment to let them recover unmolested int he southern half of the Afghan moonscape. Who knows, their more ambitious friends might take the chance to organise another 9/11 during the breather. The west must understand the the Middle East is lost, 5 dead per day is far to high a price to pay for keeping this region from tyranny. We must concentrate on saving what we can, Upper Slough and downtown Chicago may jsut be salvagable! Most people, apart from JS, know the Musa Qala deal broke down because the Taliban broke the agreement and marched back in again. Blaming Bush for this is ridiculous. JS's idea that the best thing to do in Afghanistan is to retreat to the NOrth is equally ludicrous. Yes, Nato was late into the South but leaving the Taliban alone *again* so it can rebuild its strength looks like suicidal stupidity. The Taliban, if left with the South will have the time, manpower and resources to rearm and attack the North more effectively. JS also seems to believe that the Taliban was completely disconnected from Al-Quaeda apart from the