So how's that whole War On Terror thing going?

posted by The Vidiot @ 5:39 PM Permalink

Ehh, not so well, but don't take my word for it, let's ask the experts.
First up, Iraq:

U.S. isn't winning its war on terror, experts tell poll

More than eight in 10 American terrorism and national security experts don't agree with President Bush's claims that the U.S. is winning the fight against terrorism, and the Iraq war is the biggest reason why, according to a poll released Wednesday.

And now for Afghanistan

Corruption and coalition failures spur Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan

The United States and its allies have been forced to launch their biggest military operation of the war here because in the 55 months since ousting the Taliban movement from power, they neglected to establish minimal security or governance in the country's south, analysts say.
[...]
"If we had made efforts on this scale five years ago, we would be in a much stronger position than we are now," said James Dobbins, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan

And why didn't we pay more attention?

Nato: Taliban's resurgence due to world focus on Iraq

British General David Richards said he was "optimistic" of defeating the movement, whose recent resurgence has led to the worst violence in Afghanistan since the Taliban were toppled by United States-led forces in late 2001.
[...]
"Why? Largely it's because people took their eye off this ball and a vacuum was allowed to develop and that vacuum was filled by the Taliban.