Eleven years into the post-9/11 operation to remove the terrorist threat posed by the Taliban and their one-time Al-Qaeda allies from Afghanistan, the international effort is winding down. International troop numbers have already shrunk from a peak of over 135,000 in 2011, to a forecast 100,000 by the end of 2012. If plans work out, this will be half this number again by the end of 2013 and reduce further to around 25,000 12 months beyond that date. At the same time, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is being built up as a 350,000-strong local lead.  

Things have changed a great deal, and much of it for the better.

It's a relief to hear that much has changed for the better.

As a civilian it's still hard for me to understand our Middle East policy overall.