John Kerry actually said...

Deploying an additional 17,700 troops to Afghanistan is necessary to reverse the tide and prevent the Taliban insurgency from gaining unstop...

The Afghan people have little affection for the Taliban; that is very, very clear.

Casualty rates have risen for American troops, for our coalition partners, for Afghan security forces, and especially for Afghan civilians.

So, fundamentally, the question is, Are we going to stay or go? And are we patient enough to see that through?