WASHINGTON -- It has been eight years since the United States and a coalition of allies first liberated the Afghan people from the horrific grip of the Taliban and Al Qaeda, its terrorist cohorts. It has been a little more than three years since NATO assumed all responsibility for security operations, known as the ISAF mission, in Afghanistan. Yet despite all the international military effort, sacrifice, and financial commitments that have been made during this time, the security situation on the ground has not improved appreciably nor has any semblance of a functioning Afghan national government emerged. Some, such as myself, remain convinced that all is not yet lost and that the effort the United States and its partners have expended on the ground has not been in vain. However,...