Jacko, whilst I understand that as an aviation journalist, you have seemingly reasonable crudentials on military aviation matters, and that you often show an informed understanding of lots associated with mil aviation, but your comments on performance clearly display that you do not fully understand PERFORMANCE and ODM related issues - and the safety margins that are implicit in their calculations. Believe it or not, in safety cases that are necessary for the release and manitenance of ODMs, unfortunately, annecdotal evidence is insufficient to prove them inaccurate.
ie - On paper, the Jag lacks performance to operate at places like Kandahar et al when it is hot and high - with or without a 'war load'. I acknowledge that those who operate the jet have stated that they can 'get away with it', should one of the jets end up in the sand long (with or without load, tanks or seat still attached) - heads would roll in the performance cells of the appropritate advisary agencies that 'allowed' such operations.