In the bad old days of the Roman Empire, there was a territory that the Romans tried to conquer for nearly 200 years, but never quite succeded. Known as Parthia, this territory roughly corresponds to south western Afghanistan and parts of the Iranian plateau. USA is meeting stiff resistance in exactly the same region and surprisingly for the same reason--imperial overstretch.
While Iraq is getting all the attention, the original war on terror centred on Afghanistan is not receiving adequate coverage. The removal of the Taleban was welcomed all over the world and the USA did have the backing of the world community on that scopre. However the attentiona span of the US Administration was rather short and soon diverted its gaze to Iraq and see what a glorious mess the USA and Iraq are in. Had the Americans and their backers concentrated on AFGHANISTAN then the war on terror would have reached a turning point. By attacking Iraq without any provocation and waging a brutal and reppressive war there, the USA has created a huge propaganda bonnanza for the al-qaeda. In Afghanistan itself the Taliban are ressuregent and in the countryside just ouside the lage cities there are signs of the revival of the Taleban. Just yesterday 4 US marines lost their lives.
The real reason for American failure in Afghanistan is the fact that the USA relies on the word of its client king. Gen Musharaf of Pakistan. He signed on the the war on teror as defined by Bush and the Bushmen rather reluctantly and has been making a show of compliance while all the time the taleban are able to use Pakistani territory in order tro retreat and regroup. There is credible information that bin laden is hiding in ther mountains of North west province. The deep seated tribal loyalties make it difficult for any army to operate there and those familiar with Rudyard Kipling's Kim will understand the reasons.
The war on terror in which the Pakistan Army is an unwilling partner has already led to an insurgency in parts of Baluchistan, a province of Pakistan. In fact the Afghan situation is getting bleak and it is time for the USA to think hard and long about its options. The present ituation is too dangerous for the safety and security of the regiion.