WEST POINT, N.Y. — West Point leaders announced on Saturday they were hoping to finally end the Army's 14-year slump in Iraq and Afghanistan, noting that the nation's largest military service had not decisively defeated its rivals since routing Taliban forces in late 2001/early 2002.

"There was a brief moment in December 2001 when we thought we had a clear victory. By mid '02 the Taliban was basically on its heels," Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, West Point Superintendent, said. "But since then, it's been nothing but one embarrassing setback after another."

Exasperated Army officials recounted a year-by-year series of debacles.