>>>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124986154654218153.html
>>>
>>>SNIPPET:
>>>
>>>The Taliban have gained the upper hand in Afghanistan, the top American commander there said, forcing the U.S. to change its strategy in the eight-year-old conflict by increasing the number of troops in heavily populated areas like the volatile southern city of Kandahar, the insurgency's spiritual home.
>>>
>>>Gen. Stanley McChrystal warned that means U.S. casualties, already running at record levels, will remain high for months to come.
>>
>>Defeat from the jaws of Victory.
>>
>>Obama the Worthless really inspires our enemies.
>
>Oh, for goodness sakes. We were never winning in Afghanistan. There was just less publicity and fewer troops while we were quagmired in Iraq.

My ex was in charge of security for diplomats (including our ambassador) for a time. (They are those guys you see in the background of photos with sunglasses, kackis, vests, and cool weapons) He liked to say that Karzai was a mayor because anything outside of his 'town' was unsecure and run by the Taliban and in some cases, Al Qaeda. From what I hear of others who return from Afghanistan, it hasn't changed much still except for pockets here and there.