You know, I count it a success simply to have Taliban-ruled Afghanistan out of the terrorism business and the parasitic al Qaeda severely hurt, knocked off balance, and denied a secure home to plot against us. This article argues that we really have accomplished much, though it warns we must stick to it. It is a good counter to those still claiming that Afghanistan is a disaster and that only massively expanding the UN troop presence in the countryside can save the country. I never was convinced of that since it would be putting sheep up against wolves. Had it come to a fight, the UN troops would have lost to the warlords.
We won a great victory just overthrowing the Taliban and al Qaeda regime—one that many said was impossible. I grant we haven’t created a new Switzerland, but we’ve done a whole lot more since we routed the Taliban and bin Laden’s thugs.
There is certainly no cause for hand wringing at this point.