re: what if ...
Whilst the Taliban was created by the US to fight the Russians.
The US had to protect several oil pipe deals to several US oil companies namely Exxon Mobile in Afghanistan from the Russians.
As the Russians were gaining a monolopoly in the region, and with France had a firm foothold and were the preferred parties to construct the oil fields in Iraq.
You have to love the hypocrisy. Perfect construct and destroy example is the Taliban, a flawed and corrupt US foreign policy.
