define failure, general

[spanone]

General Calls for More U.S. Troops to Avoid Afghan Failure

WASHINGTON — The top military commander in Afghanistan warns in a confidential assessment of the war there that he needs additional troops within the next year or else the conflict “will likely result in failure.”

The grim assessment is contained in a 66-page report that the commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, submitted to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Aug. 30, and which is now under review by President Obama and his top national security advisers.

The disclosure of details in the assessment, reported Sunday night by The Washington Post, coincided with new skepticism expressed by President Obama about sending any more troops into Afghanistan until he was certain that the strategy was clear.

His remarks came as opposition to the eight-year-old war within his own party is growing.

General McChrystal’s view offered a stark contrast, and the language he used was striking.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/world/asia/21afghan.html?_r=1&ref=global-home&pagewanted=print

[rucky]

1. You have to define your objectives first.

I'm waiting...

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Two ideas:

1. Failure is the opposite of success. Therefore if all elements are success are not achieved, a project may be deemed "failure" by certain evaluators. Example: There is the declaration of failure when there is a "draw".

2. Failure is subjective. If one has certain, personal views of what success is, then failure is whatever that person believes it is. Some people tend to find success when they have a mercenary interest in declaring it. Some may call something a failure if it denegrates their opposition.

[spanone]

3. we have already failed...osama bin laden is not in custody. how many have to die?

[LakeSamish706]

4. It's far past time to get the hell out of both Iraq and Afghanistan... I don' t see...

anyway of winning in either place. The question certainly is, what is success in either place?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. In Afghanistan the past tense would be more apropos. As in "Failed".

Now their just trying to save face.