Read This Now - Dispatches From Afghanistan

Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

Specialist Robert Soto ran for cover last week as his platoon was ambushed in Afghanistan. Across the river, two comrades crouched behind a rock.

I was already planning on recommending the excellent piece on the front page of today's NY Times from C.J. Chivers and on mentioning that the Korangal Valley is a particularly bad spot that Tom Ricks has been referencing of late.

Now Ricks has highly recommended not only today's piece about being caught in an ambush and Friday's piece on staging an earlier ambush but anything that Chivers has to say about Afghanistan.

So, needless to say, hurry off and read Chivers' reporting. The photos that Tyler Hicks supplied are incredible as well.

While you're at it check out Ricks' call for closing the service academies from this Sunday's Washington Post. It's an interesting and informative take...