Airstrip One

Meanwhile, in last year's war

I don't think this is murky, and I can't see any reason why it would be, but the Afghan minister responsible for THAT pipeline has mysteriously died in a plane crash. He's one of Hamid Karzai's group of Pathan royalist exiles.

Also the German's may be withdrawing their troops in protest over Iraq.

Good thing that the Hindu Kush was nice and nailed down before they went into Sumeria. Nothing in Rantburg as yet, although that will change.