Rumsfeld touts his work on Afghanistan as "big success"

Afghanistan's drug trade has doubled over the last two years, and has risen 34% since the beginning of 2007.  Security is almost non-existent outside of Kabul.  Yet, in an interview with GQ Magazine, Ronald Rumsfeld bragged that Afghanistan turned out to be a big success, and that plans for postwar Iraq actually did exist:

"Look at Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, 28 million people are free. Theyhave their own president, they have their own parliament. Improved alot on the streets."

All your theories worked there, in other words.

"It'sbeen a big success! The Iraqi government has not been successful asyet. And, uh, it's gonna take some time and some effort."

When do you see it resolved?

"I'm not gonna get into that."

Right.But if you distill the general sense…the measured general sense…of whatthe American public feels about Iraq right now, it would be: a plan inbut not a plan out. Do you agree with that?

"No! No, no! Themilitary has to have plans for post-major-conflict stabilization, andthey did. And, uh, the focus of the insurgents and the terrorists andthe Al Qaeda have put on Iraq… It's enormously important to them."

But you sleep okay?

"I do. Always have."

Generations from now, Rumsfeld will were as an example of what future Defense Secretary hopefuls should not have: arrogance, clouded judgment and a disregard for realism.