This seems to dispel the notion that Afghanistan or Iraq could rightly be considered a quagmire:

Iraqis and Afghans are among the most optimistic people in the world when it comes to their economic future, a new survey for the BBC suggests.

[...]

In Afghanistan, 70% say their own circumstances are improving, and 57% believe that the country overall is on the way up.

In Iraq, 65% believe their personal life is getting better, and 56% are upbeat about the country’s economy.

People aren’t going to be optimistic about their economic future if their country is sliding into chaos. They’re going to be optimistic if they’re noticing improvements. So it seems interesting to note that we Americans—informed by our media yet thousands of miles away—are far more pessimistic about Afghanistan and Iraq than the people who actually live there.