The White House five-page summary review of the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan is decidedly delphic, if not downright opaque. Nonetheless, on December 16, President Obama concluded that �the strategy is showing progress.� That is certainly true in the south, the heartland of the Taliban movement. Obama also said he had agreed with Afghan officials to �complete transition by the end of 2014, after which the U.S. will continue to support Afghanistan�s development and security.�

This deadline is a victory for General Petraeus, the military complex, and our national security. In 2009, Obama had declared his strategy was �not fully res