One of the first rules of a counter insurgency is political primacy. Political direction and the desired effects have been poor at best for both Iraq and Afgan. So epic fail and strategic defeat would be a fair assessment for UK. I'd say we have been very lucky on the ground, and, as usual we have got away with it. I dare say at times a more well trained, we'll co-ordinated enemy would have and could have over run various locations at various times, with disastrous consequences.