Obama: "I'm ready to negotiate with you, Iran." Iran: "Fuck you."

History suggests that Afghanistan is a near impossible place for outside invaders/occupiers to "win."

But I do like the Obama approach of a "civilian surge" to "boost its political and economic development" in addition to more troops.

The State Department hopes to dispatch 51 civilians to Afghanistan while other government agencies also plan to send people there to boost its political and economic development, department spokesman Robert Wood said.....

....under the soon-to-be-complete review on Afghan policy hundreds of civilians will be sent to the central Asian country, and that Obama will announce the move next week.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...Y3HzleN7SSy9LA

With the Brits agreeing to join in that approach as well

British officials have played a central role in helping President Obama's National Security Council devise the plan, designed to win the allegiance of local Afghan leaders by showing that Nato countries are committed to rebuilding the country.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ghanistan.html

there might be hope for some level of success.