Here is a good system to determine who won a war. The nation whose capital is burned to the ground while the other's is unmolested generally looses.
I am left to assume hyperbole on your part as Washington was not "burned to the ground". If you have ever seen or heard of the US Capitol or the White House you would know the folly of your statement. Washington was damaged, but hardly "burned to the ground." Granted, your false statement would be true if not for the restrained shown by Cockburn. However, at the time the United States government did not resemble at all its current form. Washington was not as large a seat of power as it is today. Back then the states had rights.
Furthermore our reason for declaring war(thus our reason to cease hostilities once our objective has been met) was the refusal of the British to properly recognize our independance. After the War of 1812 our independance was never again called into question. I would even beg to argue that had we lost the War of 1812 as you imply, the British would have gladly supported the South some 50 years latter.
Sure, our capitol was burned, but rising from the ashes was the seat of a truly independant nation.
but the war was a resounding failure spun as a victory here in the same way Hussein spun Gulf War I to his people.
You mean of course that the British could have easily taken control of America once and for all in the same manner as the coalition could have? Or is this the same hyperbole as shown before?