You can not conquer Afghanistan unless you are willing to be brutal enough to kill all opposition. The British, the Soviet nor are the Americans were brutal enough.
The Taliban are.
The Soviets were on their way to killing the opposition, until our Stinger missiles made their helicopter gunships “less effective”.
Kind of like Saddam Hussein, or Qaddafi.
Seems to be the only strategy that works, unfortunately.
The cultures over there just fight with each other until a "strong horse" shows up and murders anyone who shows the least resistance. If I remember correctly, Saddam actually said words to that effect to some of the young Americans who were guarding him. He actually seemed to be somewhat fond of them, or at least some of them.
Yep. You have to go WWII on them and kill them all.