Great speeches, especially the one to the troops: “A new greatest generation.”

As a student of history, and a retired soldier, I believe that this campaign in Afghanistan will eventually be recognized as one of the epics of modern warfare.

It has been grueling, and heartbreaking, with many setbacks and frustrations; but we have stayed with it for over a decade, against an endlessly resourceful and ruthless enemy, and we are on the verge of success.

Bin Laden is gone, consigned to the sea and the dustbin of history. His gang has been reduced to comically suicidal plots worthy of a Road-Runner cartoon, even as they are hunted to the very ends of the Earth and put down like rabid dogs.

Bin Laden’s former hosts, the Taliban, scramble for their very lives to make deals, even as they scramble to avoid our drones and missiles.

The brilliantly perceptive and energetic man who made these speeches does not deserve all the credit, but he deserves a large share of it.

Second term! Second term! Second term! Second term!