The mayor of Kabul

"The people of Afghanistan are a world away from the nightmare of the Taliban. Citizens of Afghanistan have adopted a new constitution, guaranteeing free elections and full participation by women. The new Afghan army is becoming a vital force of stability in that country. Businesses are opening, health care centers are being established, and the children of Afghanistan are back in school, boys and girls."

If Commander Clouseau were paying attention to Afghanistan, he'd be slightly less sanguine about what leaps forward the country is making. There have been no "free elections" and the status of women is by no means assured. The remainder of the country consists of fiefdoms run by well armed warlords. And, as Juan Cole points out, Hamdi Karzai is, essentially, the mayor of Kabul. Today's news is a timely reminder of our unfinished -- unremembered -- business in that country.