When you've got them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow

That's been the guiding maxim behind American foreign policy for decades now. Sometimes it works. Mostly it doesn't.

I'm reminded of this quote on hearing the news that three more NATO soldiers went to their reward today at the hands of their Afghan "allies".

The "good" Afghans pretend to be as perplexed about this as we are. Here's Provincial Police Chief Abdul Nabi Elham on the latest killings;

We don't know the motivation for this. Our investigation continues.

Let me help you out a bit with that, Chief Elham. There's a reason your country is known as the graveyard of empires.

Every time the invaders think they've got your people by the balls, and that your hearts and minds are going to follow, you've proven this theory wrong.

You've had your balls grabbed by pretty much every empire over the past five hundred years. In fact, well before the NATO ball-grabbers came along the Soviets had an even firmer grip on your testicles. Look what happened to them.

I think it's time for a bit of a re-write of this old chestnut.

When you've got them by the balls, their hearts and minds are planning how to cut your throat.