WASHINGTON—A federal commission tasked with studying the conduct of Operation Enduring Freedom has identified the exact PowerPoint slide that turned a corner in the war, making it unwinnable.

“It stands to reason that if slides could win the war, that slides could lose the war,” said Nathaniel Riggins, chair of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Group House Hearings, or ARGHH. “We had a lot of slides to study, and I do mean, A LOT, but our best forensic experts have identified the exact slide that rendered political, military, or economic success untenable. While it’s painful to make the public wait a whole year to release this information, these hearings are an important step in creating a national discussion.”

“God, the slides….” Riggins continued as his eyes drifted back to distressing waves of quad charts. “So many slides.”

Army Maj. Benjamin Lowey, an operations officer in the 10th Mountain division in 2009 assigned as second shift battle captain, has been identified as the slide’s primary author. He has been assessed a statement of charges for $8 trillion dollars in the waste and abuse of government resources.