I will elaborate a bit more on what Jake said. America�s biggest mistake was that they could not differentiate between Alqaeeda and Taliban. Alqaeeda were and are mainly outsiders who went to Afghanistan to fight against Russia with the help of USA and of course Britain. After that they became USA�s enemies and this story is very long.
Taliban are the same people again who fought as Heroes and were supported by the West against Russia, only difference is they are not outsiders but Afghans and of those areas of Pakistan that are tribal areas and had never been considered two separate areas. There was never a functional border even during the invasion of Russia. They are fighting against invading forces and they are fighting for two reasons.
1 � Their country has been invaded, only difference is the invaders this time are not Russians.
2 � They are extremely hospitable people and are fighting to save the people who they had given refuge there. Only thing they were asking before they could have taken action Osama Bin Laden & co, a proof that they were involved in 9/11. As USA never had proofs and knew all along what was the game all about so they showed proof to Tony Blair and Parvez Musharraf . They never bothered showing that to Taliban who at that time were legitimately in the govt. Any way long stories and controversies.
I have always said and would say again, Taliban would become Heroes for the USA once again as slowly but surely USA = Israel are getting close to the all time real target, Pakistan�s nuclear capabilities. And they always have a helping hand available from within Pakistan, sometime as Musharaf and sometime as Zardari and many more queuing to serve better.
Finally, as they do not wear uniform, so anyone who gets killed, can be a Taliban, Dead people do not speak.