An elementary guide to Afghanistan and Baker St  A well-known
British medical officer was wounded in in a distant war. Umberto
Eco draws deductions from a surprising tale of valour  We all
know that the British and American military authorities do not
allow much news to leak out about what is happening in
Afghanistan, but it is enough to read closely. For example, the
case I will now tell you about occurred long before the war
moved to the vicinity of Kandahar.  The person whose story I'm
going to relate enrolled as a medical officer in the English
deployment in Afghanistan. He registered in that very selective
group known as the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers, but, as it
happens, he was transferred to the Royal Berkshires. As part of
that outfit, he found himself facing Afghan fighters to the
north-west of Kandahar, more or less near Mundabad. That's where
an error in "intelligence" occurred.  The English were told that
there were fewer Afghans than was the case and that they were
more poorly armed. The Engl