Neither prediction has come to pass, even as the regime suffers losses of territory, troops, resources and — it would seem — hope.
The Taliban had been gaining ground long before he took charge, in large measure because the Bush administration — focused on its misguided war in Iraq — failed for so many years to invest adequate troops, resources or attention to the Afghan fight.
Troops, resources, equipment, all needed to be staged closer to Houston so the response could be more rapid.
The move also seeks to make NATO relevant to the United States, which supplies the lion's share of troops and resources in Afghanistan; the United States has 65,000 troops in Afghanistan and other NATO countries have 35,000.
Now, the Marines say their new mission, called Operation Khanjar, will include more troops and resources than ever before, as well as a commitment by the troops to live and patrol near population centers to ensure that residents are protected.
Meanwhile, the battle between M23 and government troops has raged so wildly that MONUSCO has had to divert troops and resources sorely needed elsewhere in the country in order to give the government a fighting chance.
Despite increasing troops and resources, Mr. Obama has failed to provide unity of mission and purpose.
Mr. Bush made clear that he was strongly against sending troops and resources into failed states.
He must persuade European allies to contribute more troops and resources to Afghanistan.
This shift reflected the greater need for U.S. troops and resources in Iraq, where sectarian warfare was reaching alarming levels.
