ALL ABOUT THE OIL... (via Jim Yates):

Afghan boy loves N.Y.: Sees sights after G.I. helped him get lifesaving surgery (RIVKA BUKOWSKY, 3/09/05, NY DAILY NEWS)

An Afghan boy brought to the U.S. last month for a heart operation after a soldier took up his cause came to New York yesterday to sightsee and show off the boundless energy of a typical 12-year-old.

"Before, I cannot walk so much," Assadullah Khan said during the whirlwind trip with his father and interpreter to meet the "nice people" who helped save his life.

"Now, I walk everywhere. I can walk and run."

Until last month's operation to patch a hole in his heart, Assadullah could barely walk across a room, much less go to school or play with other children in his tiny village of Jdellak. But something about the small boy with big brown eyes caught the attention of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Layne Pace.

Pace, 50, mentioned the kid's plight in the Internet chatroom anysoldier.com, where Shelby Everett happened to see it, setting in motion a charitable chain of events.