Radagast, the absent wizard...

[doug*platypus]

Hmmm... I am glad my attention has been drawn to this very pressing issue. I strongly believe that...

...Radagast would've used leaves for toilet paper, and not paper.

I also believe that he did indeed fail in his mission, at least the mission as originally defined - he didn't seem to have much to do with the Defeat of Sauron. I assume that he was part of the White Council simply because he was one of the Istari, although I'm sure he was probably daydreaming at most of the meetings. I'm sure that he's the brown wizard because it's a nice earthy colour, and maybe he's some kind of version of St. Francis the patron saint of animals, who would have worn brown monk robes.

I think it's likely that Radagast did some very good things on a small level, like nurturing injured squirrels back to health. It's quite possible that living so close to Mirkwood he was too busy with his own troubles to fight a war. Once you get those Mirkwood weeds in your vege patch, you never have a free Saturday again!