There's definitely *something* going on

cannon in full:

This is too funny...

BOGOTA, Colombia - The United States' top military official said Friday that American-backed anti-drug and counterinsurgent operations in Colombia — the world's largest producer of cocaine — could serve as a template for Afghan efforts to fight drug production.

More...

Afghanistan has been plagued by skyrocketing heroin production. But critics say it would be a mistake for the country to duplicate Colombia's model, which they say has been ineffective.

Pace's comments, at the end of a two-day visit, were made in the presence of William Wood, who on Thursday was nominated by the White House to become its next ambassador in Afghanistan. Wood has served as U.S. ambassador to Bogota since 2003.

Is any further comment necessary? Probably not. I trust the hipness of my readers. But while we are on the subject of Wood, let's recall this gem from 2005:

A group of US soldiers arrested for alleged cocaine smuggling cannot be allowed to stand trial in Colombia, Washington's envoy to Bogota has said.

Colombian senators have been calling for the men, who were based in the country, to be extradited from the US.

But US ambassador William Wood said the soldiers are immune from prosecution.

The soldiers tried to smuggle the dope in a military aircraft.

I'm sure ambassador Wood will keep up the fine work in Afghanistan.

starroute (in the context of Dyncorp/grossman/Ronald) et al) adds:

"There's definitely *something* going on -- you can see the pieces being moved around on the chessboard -- but, as usual, the question is just what."