Why are the British and Americans in Afghanistan?

[Seafarer1966]

I was just reading an internet newspaper article about Afghanistan. I asked myself this question and I really don't know why Britain and America have troops out there. It's not our country. Al Quaeda aren't based there and haven't launched any of their assaults on us from there. The CIA trained and equipped the Taliban to fight the Soviet Union for years. So why are we there? Anyone enlighten me? Sensible answers only please

[Skreecheeboy]

Good point about the gas pipeline. It's a geographically strategic country which could create links with the far east and middle east, very useful if it was cheap and easy for multinational conglommerates to head in to "rebuild" and gain control over the economy of the region. That and the perceived heroin problem. The heroin problem is the fact that it's illegal so the quality is terrible and the price is sky high whilst it's far too easy for people to get a hold of hypodermic syringes, if needles were outlawed and the heroin was pure like what all the Afghans smoke the problem would be greatly reduced.

[Skreecheeboy]

My first answer wasn't a joke btw. I just hadn't given it much thought when I posted it.