Afghanistan is lost. It's very hard for Americans and the president - whether Bush Jr. or Obama - to admit, but it's time we do. The US accomplished its mission of removing the Afghan Govt that was in place during 9/11/2001, it greatly diminshed al Queda, and eventually killed Osama bin Laden (in neighboring Pakistan). In the past when a war was won, the victors would impose their political system, economic system, religious beliefs, culture, language, etc. on the losers. There would be cross-breeding between the men of the occupying forces and the women of the occupied. But in the 11-year Afghan War, this has intentionally been avoided so as not to offend the Muslim World as a whole. Therefore, this war has always been doomed to fail in the long run! Whenever the US, British, and NATO forces decide to completely leave Afghanistan (2014?), fundamentalist Muslims will grab hold of power, any resemlence to equal rights will disappear, heroin will again become their BIG cash crop, and draconian Islamic law will rule. Democracy may continue, but the US will soon fail in its effort to continue a puppet government.