Good article, but it was a SERIOUS MISTAKE to begin it that way. Many newspaper readers just read the headline and the first few sentences. If they do that in this case, they will conclude that the article is about America's failure in Iraq.
Yes, I know, she is attacking the defeatists who says these things. But it's not a good way to write a newspaper article.
Actually those who want to read about America's failures in Iraq may well read the article instead of skipping it.
And that is a success.