I agree Gordo. Working in the ME as a pilot or anything else for that matter requires a certain ability to ignore, rationalize with or compromise over unwanted truths. As for these much vaunted security departments, highly trained or specialized, a combination of the CIA, MI5, SAS, FBI all rolled into one…They may or may not be quite as competent as you think. Working for a new airline equipped with B737s (guess which one), to all our surprise and disquiet a new route to Kabul was announced. But…we protested and listed a series of what ifs. No need to worry was the response. What if the aircraft has a technical fault and the crew needs to stop over in Kabul? All covered, we know what we’re doing, just fly the plane etc, etc. so, the law of sod being what it is that eventuality came to pass. The Plan? There wasn’t one of course, nothing organized, just chaos and confusion and a risky (very) one night layover in not very friendly, downtown Kabul. Don’t believe in the airline propaganda. Just stay safe, watch your 6 and take the dough.