I have several friends there, they remind me that the Soviets had an easy time during their first year there. Things are not what they seem.
I yield to your expertise in the matter. But it does seem to me that the left didn't think our forces would have done nearly as well as they have to date. I'd be interested in what you have to tell about what it's like there. Are there any threads you post to that talk about it? I admit I haven't paid much attention to the Afghanistan situation lately.