Let's Hear It

for Bu$hCo's continuing success in Afghanistan. We initially did the right thing there, but then abandoned them to invade a country that posed no threat to us. Good planning, boys.

"Remnants of the ousted Taliban regime have launched a campaign of arson, intimidation, and assassination targeting schools and teachers in southern Afghanistan, forcing some 200 schools to close in recent months, local officials say.

Five teachers have been killed, said Hayat Allah Rafiqi, head of the education department in Helmand province. Hundreds more teachers have received ''night letters' -- threatening notices nailed to their houses under darkness, warning them to quit teaching or die."