Belief

It's often said that the key to counterinsurgency warfare (COIN) is winning the hearts and minds of the local population. If that's true, then here's another sign ISAF and the Afghan government are winning in Kandahar:

Two days of fighting have bloodied Canadian troops west of Kandahar city, but after the intense battles several local officials and villagers say they now believe the Taliban lack the strength they enjoyed in their heartland last year. [Babbler's bold]

What the ordinary residents of Kandahar province believe is of huge importance to us. And it goes to show that now is not the time to falter, or even to waver in our resolve to see this mission through.