.. and analysed Sue. Still, it's very sad that Syrian military just collapsed under pressure of (US/Turkey) head-choppers (incl. Ukr neonazi mil). Let's hope for the best.

You say:

probably the only progressive government that benighted land has ever known

I'd very much agree with your assessment. I was in Afghanistan in '66. One of the hotels I stayed in had a 'progressive' family living above me. Obviously Soviet-influenced, if you like. Don't know how to put it, but they were super-straight in comparison to life outside (it was in Kabul from memory). Dress, manners etc. Outside life generally carried on with Peshtu male with a rifle followed by burka-ed female 10 steps behind. This was after I arrived from Tehran where young females had mini-skirts and young (male) students complained about Shah's SAVAK goons. Just a snippet