and sincerely hope that a facsimile suggestion reaches the ears of a few in the power structure. Such a gesture could only both, do Good (!) and confound the extremists. Done in the spirit of Gandhi (who I think said it best, on occasion when India could 'help' anyone else) ~ we offer you this assistance and pray you will forgive us for it.. I think - an entire psych. course within that sentence.
Bow to your more detailed lore about the sects - Uzbeks, Tajiks and a bit of Taliban-comingling I've heard about, from Russ friends. I have to believe that State Dept. contains at least a few, fully cognizant of the surreal landscape (add the terrain too).
May your take on Ashcroft be the accurate one - and may he write better than he speaks..
I also sympathize with Dubya; believe he's indeed smarter than his 'communication skills', and agree - he has to say Something. Let it be.. little as possible. My hope remains that - we somehow discover the wisdom to handle this-all otherwise than knee-jerk.
Ashton