Flit

Robson on NDP and Afghan negotiations

Good piece by John Robson on the NDP's stance on Afghanistan. As far as Canada and negotiations go, I don't think anything's changed since I wrote this on the subject.

The problem with mercs

Say what you want, this IS a problem in Iraq.

You're seeing it in Afghanistan, too, particularly with the DynCorp-led eradication efforts, conflicting with British and Dutch efforts in Helmand and Uruzgan. Unity of command and purpose is a good idea for a reason. Right now, in Afghanistan as well as Iraq, the private armies and the state ones are increasingly pursuing divergent aims in the same battlespace. See also Jon Lee Anderson in the New Yorker.