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Can Wars Still Be Won?

In the aftermath of September 11, the United States and its partners initiated a war in Afghanistan. Very quickly, a series of battle victories ensued—Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul and Kandahar were all captured from the Taliban within the month of combat operations. Yet, in August 2021, the Taliban would return to power in Afghanistan. Is this episode unique? Or is there a pattern in military history where wars are lost by the side that wins the major battles? What does Afghanistan tell us about how we think about war and strategy? Are wars winnable?