Attention softgoods designers! Be warned, your technical apparel may be on the wrong side of the fight against terrorism. According to the Soldiers for the Truth website, a non-profit veterans group, the U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan are spotting al-Qaida fighters wearing the industry's best. The site, www.sftt.org, posted a July email sent to retired U.S. Army Colonel David Hackworth from a Special Forces soldier back from Afghanistan: "The fighters who are captured are brought in wearing expensive North Face gear, top-of-the-line American hiking boots and Gore-Tex clothing. According to one source, they appear to have just gone on a shopping spree at REI." The soldier added that the al-Qaida clothing is "much nicer gear than what American troops have been issued," and the fighters had no shortage of high-tech assault rifles and GPS units.