Panetta is doing the rounds in-country as they say. Showing the flag. Delivering pep talks. Posing for photo-ops.
I've read this story a couple of times and I can't figure out what he means when he says we're at a turning point. Were we losing, and now we're winning? Or if we used to be winning, are we now losing? Where are we turning from or to?
In a later clarification he added that "we are on the right track."
Well, after ten years that's good to know. Is he implying that we were once on the wrong track? Had the campaign gone off the rails, as it were?
I recall that the Aghanistan adventure began as a great victory, achieved mere months after the invasion. Since then there have been many turning points and many claims that things are heading in the right direction.
One sombre note crept into Panetta's remarks. He forsees a difficult spring ahead as we fight to turn back the "militants' progress." Those militants would be the Taliban, would they not? And if they have been making advances, gaining ground, would we not be losing it?
I'm predicting a difficult spring too, with many turning points. However, when all is said and done, I'm confident we'll be on the right track, and no matter what direction we're going in, even if it's just round and round in circles, Mr. Panetta will assure us that everything is going according to plan.
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