Transitions are a time of testing, and both sides will have something to prove -- the NATO forces to show they are tough, their opponents to show they won't run. There will be more troops and more targets. It will be a pretty messy summer.

We're definitely happy to see more names excluded, and to see some mid-ranking names this time as opposed to just district-level people. But there's still widespread disappointment that the big names are not on there.

Why should they stick to a Western timetable? Why hit the elections when they can hit any time they want?

Everything is now in place to launch definitive testing in mid-March. At that time we will be conducting two tests/demos with various government agencies and authorities. While we are disappointed in the scheduling delays, we are charting some new territory and we want to be assured that our system is operating to the exacting standards required to achieve desired results.

The percentage of US cattle selected for testing is very limited at less than 1 percent. How can the government ensure that the imported beef products did not come from cows that might not have yet shown symptoms of the disease?

It's an incredibly emotive issue. This is something that really upset Afghans. But it is also being used to agitate and motivate the crowds by those against the government and foreign forces being here.