GOOD NEWS YOU MIGHT MISS: Afghanistan’s first elected national assembly in 30 years is meeting. Murdoc Online has more, and observes: “If, at the end of September 2001 you had said that both Iraq and Afghanistan would have elected new democratic national governments by the end of 2005, I would have said you were a bit too optimistic. I’m glad to be proven wrong. Why are some people so disappointed that things are going so well?”

Why, indeed?