Center for a New American Security

If "to target" means to capture or kill, this is not necessarily a good idea.

The first rule for success in both Afghanistan and in blogging is to find yourself some dependable local Pashtun allies. So many thanks go out to Londonstani for covering for me these past few days. Back in DC, I am scrambling to get prepared for a meeting later this morning. On the ride to the meeting, though, I'll be reading two things:

A reader writes in:

The folks at 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW enjoyed a good staff debate on Afghanistan and Pakistan yesterday morning.

You want to know the full story on yesterday's violence in the Bekaa? And the drug trade in Lebanon? And how Hizballah ties into it? I have been holding my tongue here on the blog while Mitch developed this story. This story is, well, just awesome. Yes, Hizballah has protected some of the drug gangs. But it's more complicated than that.

Mexico is not the only state whose authority is being challenged by drug gangs. This has nothing to do with Hizballah, either. This is about Shia drug clans. Which is a phrase that sounds as cool as it does incongruous. Try using "Shia drug clan" in one of your office conversations today, people.

The PLO's #2 in Lebanon was killed in a bomb blast this morning in Mieh Mieh. Not good.

When revolution no longer worked for the FARC, they turned to drugs. When the Good Friday agreement was signed, the militant groups of Northern Ireland turned to crime as well. So it comes as no surprise that the Shining Path -- once an idealistic Maoist guerrilla group -- has now re-invented itself as an armed drug cartel after failing as a political movement. (h/t Nirav)