Hey, remember when liberals supported the war in Afghanistan?

Since 2001, liberals have decried the heavy military footprint in Afghanistan, arguing that the civilian-military balance must be recalibrated. Since the Obama administration’s strategic review, the U.S. has been slowly reigning in the military, while injecting diplomats and aid workers into positions of responsibility.

For the first time, civilians are working alongside military commanders in provincial reconstruction teams, sharing the burden of engaging tribal leaders and bolstering the Afghan government’s ability to provide goods and services to its people. Gen. David Petraeus, who recently took over ISAF command from Gen. Stanley McChrystal, is committed to prioritizing the protection of civilians over hunting down the Taliban.

From Washington, it may look like “too little, too late,” but on the ground in Afghanistan, diplomats and aid workers believe that they can turn around a failing intervention. President Obama inherited a neglected war. Now his administration is beginning to realistically define success and providing long-needed manpower and resources.