Did you see the problems cropping up in Afghanistan with the northern

[LittleApple81]

alliance? Goody, if this is not solved we will right in the middle of another crappy situation...which we left to fester to go chasing Saddam's weapons...

[acmavm]

1. Oh hell, I wrote Afganistan off a long time ago. That situation is so far

gone that nothing can fix it. And you all know who we have to thank for that one too.

[starroute]

2. The problems didn't just start

It's a conflict between Uzbeks and Tajiks, and it's been going on for at least a year and a half. The forces of Addurrashid Dostum and Mohammed Ustad Atta were fighting as far back as October 2002. More clashes were reported in February, March, May, and July of 2003. And all this even though Atta's brother was defense minister and Dostum a deputy defense minister.

The Afghan government has never been much better than a farce. The last I knew, Atta was "our" guy, while Dostum was being supported by Russia and Iran. I don't have the real scoop, but I get the uncomfortable feeling that Great Power struggles are being played out under the surface.