Teribus, try to have a word with Admiral Mullen if you get a chance. The poor fellow was sounding rather downbeat last time I heard him quoted - "I'm not convinced we're winning" etc. And on the ground, according to yesterday's Economist, "the mood is bleaker." Poor deluded fools! Don't they know that an impressive three per cent (or maybe even more?) of Afghanistan's territory is under their secure control?

And how could that imbecile Karzai think that the US bombing of wedding parties is turning Afghans towards the Taleban? What the hell would he know about it anyway? And why should the military be worried about the slow disintegration of Pakistan - a process which they are doing their best to speed up with their illegal assaults on the Pakistani FATAs?

For some reason, Teribus, I am reminded of a nurse in "Oh! What a Lovely War" writing home from the front, after I think the Somme offensive, and saying "Thank you for sending a copy of The Times. It was encouraging to read that despite everything it was still a victory."