Ok so I just started reading The Place Between by Rory Stewart. This guy walked across Afghanistan from Herat to Kabul.....interesting - although - why? Guess I will find out in my "read". Afghanistan is such a sad place...such a turbulent history. The only way things will be better is if people in the west start giving a crap....Such a bright, diverse and eagar group too - kind of reminds me of Poland in the thirteenth century (or there about) when they kept getting their asses kicked....I can only hope Afghanistan will again be at the very least a place of some hope. Not if we pull out again after we get our "interest" settled....like we did in the early 80s. Isolationism does not work anymore - and anyone who tries to tell you we need to look out for number 1 (ie the west or better the USA) can expect another 9/11 only on a greater magnitude...thoughts??? The pennies for peace website is a great place to visit if you actually give a fig about the folks of Pakistan and Afghanistan. www.ikat.org is also a great place to visit....