The strength of 1,400 years of history lies behind those who claim that our attempts to “nation-build” and reach accords with allies in Iraq and Afghanistan are implausible and doomed to failure. Those who still hope to justify “our mission” in both countries to create a stable government that is not wholly corrupt and subject to Islamic fundamentalism, rely on "statistical trends" purporting to show a reduction in mayhem since the departure of the majority of American forces “evidence” that our “mission” there ultimately may have a positive outcome.
