Yet, the best way to have fought this particular war would've been to tell the tribes initially allied with us that our objective was to exterminate the Talibani and a pair of their ears would be worth a $20 bounty.
Whereupon, the Talibani -- and every male who looked or spoke like one -- would've been exterminated inside a year or two.
Whereupon, we would depart -- leaving the Afghanis to whatever arrangement they wished, while knowing that if they ever hosted another group that pissed off the USA, we would return to exterminate them!.
Would've saved a lot of time, a lot of blood...and a lot of money.
It's a matter of will.
Just so. The price of political correctness is extremely high.