This is a balanced and informative read from Brookings, the international think tank. The article pessimistically concludes that even with the additional troops, Trump aims to accomplish more with fewer resources than the United States used in the past. The conclusion according to Brookings is a continued stalemate being the likely outcome.
Source: Why are we losing in Afghanistan?
Following Trump’s speech, world attention is again focused on Afghanistan and America’s continued failures. The Taliban seem to be gaining ground because of Obama’s premature evacuation of US troops. Under Obama too, the opium/heroine trade from Afghanistan to the US has proliferated, with more Americans dying from the opioid epidemic in US cities. Meanwhile, the US has given Pakistan billions of Dollars, despite Pakistan continuing to support the terrorists. Of course, the elephant in the room is the risk of ISIS rebuilding its strength in Afghanistan.
But surely ordinary Americans and their politicians should be asking pointed questions about the explosion of the opioid epidemic?
Thoughts?
Dr Alf's Blog 
Brookings, in this article, has called the situation correctly on Afghanistan, which is a place that defies conventional military measures but which needs to be brought to heel and broken to the fist, along with Pakistan.
As Dr Alf will know, India once used to control Afghanistan, yet under Modi, their disappointing leader, they create trouble on their border with China and do nothing to stabilise Afghanistan. At the same time, India gets much of the BPO/IT related outsourcing business, call centre contracts and software development work from Western countries whose business leaders are not prepared to train anyone. The quid pro quo must be Indian troops in Afghanistan to clear out the terrorist infestations helped by American air power.
Security should be handed over to Erik Prince, the former Special Forces man, who runs the newly renamed XE, formerly Blackwater, using his men to guard bases and towns. Drones and Terminator robots should be used to deal with jihadis on the move and Pakistan which funds the Taliban needs to be neutralized. The Waziristan tribal regions, where the Taliban hide, need similar treatment.
Uranium and other minerals exist in Afghanistan and these should be sequestered to help defray the costs of war and occupation.
Earlier measures in Afghanistan have been too mealy mouthed and too telegraphed for fear of causing civilian casualties.
If we want to win then we have be more robust.
The flow of poppy crop which turns into Heroin can be curtailed or indeed stopped given the political will.