"Will a little more love make a ... happy ending?"

"Will a little more love make it right?"

KABUL (Reuters) - Five Taliban attackers laid siege to a British cultural center in the Afghan capital Friday, killing at least nine people during an hours-long assault on the 92nd anniversary of Afghanistan's independence from British rule.
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Kabul police chief Mohammad Ayob Salongi said four Afghan police, three Nepalese British Council guards and one Afghan street cleaner were killed. He too had no details on the nationality of the foreign soldier.

A Reuters photograph taken at the scene showed what appeared to be a white male being lifted onto a stretcher with blood across his back and wound to the back of his head. A second photo showed a Union Jack insignia on his left shoulder, and a different uniform than those warn by council's guards.

"There's no confirmation on whether the foreign soldier who was wounded was killed," (British Ambassador to Afghanistan Sir William) Patey said, also declining to reveal the nationality.

The Taliban said they were sending two messages: "One to the Afghan government and one to the British," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by phone.

"We are now reminding them that we will become independent again from all foreigners, especially from the British," Mujahid said, referring to Afghanistan's independence from British rule 92 years ago, which the country was marking on Friday amid heightened security.

After the United States, Britain has the second-largest force in the NATO-led war against the Taliban, with around 9,500 troops.
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"This was a dastardly, cowardly attack designed to attack British interests, but ultimately ending in the deaths of many Afghans and we regret the death of the Afghans," Patey said, adding that the attack was over.

"The attack is over."
"We regret the deaths of the Afghans."

And I'm sure that our nation-building, bad-guy-exterminating, Middle East Western makeover will take someday soon, if only we keep our boots planted and stick to the fight! Bombs away...

Will a little more love make you stop pretending?
Will a little more taxpayer money make a ... happy ending?
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ADDED: As if on cue: let the choir sing!

The British Council said it would continue its work in Afghanistan despite the attack.

"This attack must not, and will not, prevent the British Council from giving these young Afghans the support they need to be part of the wider world," Martin Davidson, the organization's CEO, told reporters in London.
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A ministry of interior statement later said at least 22 people were wounded in the attack on the British Council, a state-funded agency running cultural and English language programs. It is not part of the British embassy in Kabul's diplomatic zone.

Two British teachers and one South African were inside the compound during the attack, but were later rescued by an elite Afghan unit, British Ambassador to Afghanistan Sir William Patey told a press conference.
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There is growing unease in the United States and Europe about the costly and increasingly violent war against Islamist militants in Afghanistan that has dragged on for 10 years, causing U.S. lawmakers to question whether bringing home all combat troops by 2014 is fast enough.

NATO and the United States earlier this year reluctantly backed Kabul's peace plan, which involves reconciliation with some members of the Taliban. The Taliban have repeatedly said they will not negotiate with the Afghan government until all foreign forces have stopped fighting in their country.

Similar to the Palestinians who refuse to negotiate with Israel "in good faith" until the latter stops building on contested lands -- seems a fair starting point for boundary negotiations on sovereign lands.

Still, America is more interested in helping carry water for Israel's settlements. And so it goes...

or, Rinse and Repeat.