[Lt_Apple]

Too bad our civillian leadership is still dragging up the rear.

Civilian leadership??? I'll need a program to figure out who the leaders are, if any. '...up the rear...' is where many of the politicos have been trying to stick it as far as the military is concerned. The military ought to have active representation in the legislature by all branches (e.g. House, Senate, and Military), and not be subject to a 'Commander in Chief' that holds a civilian position. Let the executive and legislature present their arguments for any military action, and then let the Military branch of the 'New Legislature' present the logistics; pros, cons and conditions that need to be met before the Military branch commits the US military to a conflict. If the conditions aren't met, then the troops don't go!!! At the same time the Military Branch could present why an action should be undertaken without regard for some politician's or branch's poll numbers. The "political interests" of war get too many killed and maimed for party oneupmanship. It's good to hear that sometimes that our forces are actually allowed to use their training to the max. Thanx for the update.

[9mm_fan]

The Taliban and Al Qaida are really getting thier asses handed to them in Afghanistan by the US and NATO. We are now averaging a 100:1 kill ratio in Afghanistan as well as a 40:1 in Iraq.

And they are leveraging the same against Musharafs regulars... the end result escapes me though...