Testing times

I read with interest that Afghanistan defeated the USA at 20/20 cricket in Dubai this week. The game is famous for its speed and big hitting. Forgive the cricketing analogy, but Obama can only hope that he is playing in a test match when it comes to his strategy in Afghanistan. The USA may have launched a surge, but I have a nagging feeling that the best he can hope for is draw - and even that, in the best traditions of cricket, might been seen as a victory.