On Monday, Britain confirmed it was sending a further 500 soldiers to Afghanistan, taking the country's total deployment in the country to 10, 000.

BBC: Barack Obama briefs Karzai on new US strategy

The nation's utilities have embraced the concept and are installing millions of automated meters on homes across the country, the first phase in Smart Grid's deployment.

CNN: 'Smart Grid' may be vulnerable to hackers

And it has caused the US's NATO partners to question the purpose of their deployment in that country.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Barreling on, regardless