Five years ago, as the Taliban government in Afghanistan was crumbling, journalists filed joy-filled reports that children were once again flying kites (banned under the fundamentalist regime) on the streets of Kabul, and that there was a surge in demand for razors. Channel 4's chief correspondent, Alex Thompson, travelled with the triumphant Northern Alliance forces as they entered the capital. The Guardian's front page was dominated by a photgraph of crowds welcoming a Northern Alliance tank into Kabul.
With Afghan tribes and neighbouring governments sounding bellicose towards the newly outlawed regime, the world's press, including the Guardian, were asking whether it was the end for the Taliban movement.
Five years on and it's clear suggestions of the Taliban's demise were quixotic. Thompson is back in Kabul and blogging on the divided city.
How did it go so wrong? The Senlis Council, an international thinktank, believes the continued presence of foreign troops is "fuelling resentment and fear" and argues that the coalition's failure to alleviate poverty and devise counter-narcotics policies for the current situation.
Zoya, who spoke at a Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan meeting last month, blames corruption and fundamentalism for the continuing mess.
"The US invaded Afghanistan, but it is crystal-clear that US did not enter Afghanistan to liberate our people, but to punish its former hirelings and servants, and a bleeding, devastated and hungry Afghanistan was bombed by the most advanced weaponry ever created in human history. The oppression of Afghan women was used as a justification to overthrow the Taliban regime. Innocent lives, many more than those who lost their lives on 9/11, were taken."
Others blame Pakistan. Whatever the reason, the contrast could not be stronger between those, such as the American soldier and blogger Dan, who believe the US is a force for good in the country, and those who think the Bush administration's policy will provoke another 9/11.
