So much is being said about timelines and rules of engagement in Afghanistan that sometimes the simple things get lost. The only way to be able to call the war a “success” will be with the help and support of the Afghan people.

What it really boils down to is this: they need to support their government, reject violence and back up their army and police, fight the illegal drug trade, find ways to support their families and emphasize education. I know, that’s a tall order.

Associated Press Writer Heidi Vogt is in the Arghhandab Valley north of Kandahar city with the Army’s 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Regiment. She tells the story of one village where the Afghan people helped clear a wheat field full of explosives.

It’s a small act, and certainly illustrates what U.S. and NATO troops are up against, but it’s a great example of how things can go right – if the Afghan people stand up for themselves.

“That is a win right there,” said Capt. Adam Armstrong. “We didn’t have to do anything. The farmer got to keep his crop, and my men aren’t in danger when they walk through the field.”

(AP Photo by Kevin Frayer)