Ninety percent of the world's opium comes out of Afganistan.  And eighty percent of Afghanistan's opium comes out of the place where I'm going, Kandahar.  This is where the 82nd Airborne is located and this is where I am going.

President Obama is preparing to make a decision on whether or not to send more troops to Afghanistan. However, without a legitimate partner in President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, sending more troops will certainly not provide success.  Even Gen. McChrystal has stated that a legitimate partner is absolutely necessary. So the real questions are whether the Americans can find a legitimate partner and then whether it makes any difference?

The President is supposed to make his decision after Thanksgiving.  I leave for Afghanistan on December 3rd.  I will be on the ground to report regarding the reaction from both the Afghanis as well as the Americans.