Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been highly critical of Nato strikes causing civilian casualties in the past.

BBC: Nato air strike in Ghazni 'kills Afghanistan police'

It is, though, the 4.2% increase in self-employment and 0.6% fall in employment that strikes me as critical in understanding the data.

BBC: The mystery of rising employment

In addition, the NSC's Clarke (who, it must be acknowledged, during his time as its counterterrorism chief - in his words - "failed" to discern and address adequately the menace of WMDs in the form of hijacked planes) was laudably beavering away at another grave danger: the possibility of cyber-strikes aimed at the computers that enable America's critical infrastructure.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Anti-anti-missile defense

Those of you who follow this column are always keen to hear the latest news on the British spaceplane concept, and the most recent development strikes me as being a key moment in what will be a critical few months.

BBC: Skylon: Ending 40 years of hurt