The United States and its Afghan and NATO allies have demonstrated unmistakable progress in Afghanistan this year. The ongoing Marja campaign, the arrest of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and two Taliban "shadow governors" in Pakistan, and the recent drone strike hitting top leaders of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Haqqani network are all clear steps in the right direction.
但不管在其他方面的进展如何，只有阿富汗政府有效运作，美国及其盟友才能谈得上胜利 —— 但现在，阿富汗政府正在朝着错误的方向前行。只有改变方向性错误，不然所有一切的努力都是白费，国际社会的参与也就没了合法性。