It just seems to prove Hegel's old adage that the only thing you learn from history is that sadly no one ever learns anything from history.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26483320

That was a great article.

From what I've read about Afghanistan, it's all about tribal life there and it's been that way for thousands of years. I'm betting most of the populace doesn't even comprehend the idea of a central government in charge of everything. I could be wrong, but I don't think the place will ever change, and I'm not sure it wants to. Just my two cents.

You are not wrong, Bob.

Good article by Mr Dalrymple, thank you Tommy. The retreat from Kabul was fairly horrific, and sent real shock waves throughout the British Empire. The ignominy was such, that a second Afghan was fought only years later, which again resulted in us slinking away with our tails between our legs, albeit without similar slaughter.

The terrain is particularly problematic. You have to get in, and you have to get out. Supplies are a nightmare, logistically. During the Raj, it was strategically important, and the British were always worried that the Russians would appear in force via the Khyber Pass, and take over our repugnant colonial usury in the sub-continent.

(Incidentally, and this pertains to the hilarity of the Snowden thread, the espionage surrounding this issue - Russia + Britain + India + Afghanistan - was referred to as "the great game" and is historically significant as it led to, erm, all sorts of interesting stuff in terms of spying. Kipling's 'Kim' was inspired by it, incidentally.)

For those who like their history served up with a dollop of sex and a dash of derring do, see the original Flashman novel, by the late lamented George MacDonald Fraser. The footnotes alone are worth the purchase price, and can be perused at leisure after the novel itself, which is excellent, if you like that sort of thing.