It is not possible now to chart an exact course for the future. Despite one’s best hopes, the war may continue unabated. A Taliban victory, with black turbaned fighters triumphantly riding their pickup trucks into Kabul, is highly unlikely and nearly impossible unless the West abandons the Afghan regime. Allied success, however, may take many paths. Security assistance may move to the forefront of the allied agenda, allowing for the withdrawal of some or all of ISAF’s combat forces. Reintegration of individuals and reconciliation with part or all of the Taliban may occur much faster than the Western powers expect