Karzai The Talib?

Why not? There are no Taliban distinct from the Pashtun generally, and while they certainly want a very particular and unpleasant type of Islamic state, they only want in Afghanistan and Pakistan, or even only in the Pashtun parts of those countries.

With a nuclear bomb in Pakistan, any fight to prevent a bomb in Islamist hands has already been lost, since those who run the madrassas are an integral part of the power structure there, although the ultimate authority is the Army. No mere politician is allowed anywhere near the nuclear codes.

And who would not object to the invasion and occupation of their country? Far from defending ourselves in Afghanistan, we are making enemies of people who would never otherwise have given us any thought. People with access, even if indirect, to the Pakistani nuclear bomb.

We should never have gone into Afghanistan. And we should get out. I dimly recall that it was something to do with the totally unconnected Saudi attack on America in September 2001. Oh, and there was some stuff about changing the dress code for women. To what? And since when was that a British strategic interest? In any case, it hasn’t worked. The burkha is still worn in full view of our troops. Well, of course it is.

We should never have gone into Afghanistan.

And we should get out.