Progress in Afghanistan?

Among all the doom and gloom commentary about Afghanistan you can sometimes stumble across an online news article that says we are making headway in the Afghan War. The editorial at the following link says we are making progress in transitioning the lead for security in some areas of Afghanistan, seeing a reduction of poppy cultivation as a result of anti-drug operations, and making strides in setting up a functioning government. Read "Progress in Afghanistan", Voice of America, March 29, 2012. Of course, VOA is somewhat associated with the U.S. government, isn't it?