Measuring Success in Afghanistan

A pessimistic report, at Los Angeles Times, "Afghanistan success is in eye of beholder":

With an American troop drawdown underway and expected to accelerate in the coming year, the NATO force insists that violence is declining, that the insurgency's strength is flagging and that Afghan forces are demonstrating a growing ability to take the lead in safeguarding the country.

Many Afghans, however, subscribe to a darker view: that daily life has grown more perilous, that national and local governance has become even shakier, that the country's police and army are chronically unable protect its citizens, and that the Taliban movement is hunkering down to wait out the Western presence.

Recent months have seen escalating tension over so-called metrics that can be used to chart either progress or deterioration.

RTWT.

And at Michael Yon, "Fool’s Gold & Troops’ Blood," "Report to Congress," and "Question for Congressman Pompeo: What is your Position?"