The experts say, not so much

It's a statement to our national security policy establishment that the US has managed to turn Iraq from a country hostile to violent Sunni terrorism into a launching pad for Al Qaeda's regional attacks.

The director of national intelligence said Tuesday he is concerned that al-Qaida in Iraq is shifting its focus to attacks elsewhere in the region....

McConnell also told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the Taliban, once thought to be routed from Afghanistan, has expanded its operations into previously peaceful areas of the west and around the capital of Kabul, despite the death or capture of three top commanders in the last year.

And, let's point out, this isn't from "one bad decision." This is from years of mistakes and oversimplifications.

Later: (NYTimes) "Michael McConnell, the director of national intelligence, said on Tuesday that Al Qaeda is improving its ability to attack within the United States by recruiting and training new operatives."