War update: The Globe’s Indira A.R. Lakshmanan writes an outstanding piece on U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan. She has a lovely lead into the story, and the quotes from Special Forces troops are from the gut. Some quick examples:

“'I don't think Osama bin Laden is as important as getting Afghanistan free and denying Al Qaeda and the Taliban the chance to ever train here again,'' said Monty, a Special Forces soldier. ... ''If we could rebuild [post-war] Korea, Japan, and Germany, why can't we rebuild this place?''

Or this:

''It's like trying to put a democratic template over a geometric grid of tribal issues,'' said Jerry, a Special Forces soldier who had similar experiences in Haiti and Bosnia. ''They don't know how to run a government because no one's had the chance. Everyone's told them what to do. We try to explain, `OK, you're the district Minister of Potholes, so when you find a pothole, go to the Minister of Finance and get some money to fill it.'''

Lots of other good tidbits and great quotes in the story. Makes you proud of the job our troops are doing.
  ¶ 10:06 AM