Before the September 2001 terrorist attacks, the Taliban were offering to make a deal with the US which involved chasing out al-Qa'ida. If Dubya had accepted the deal, we would never have invaded Afghanistan.

Now US newsmedia — even NPR — are covering up this history.

Why didn't the US accept the deal? I don't know, but whatever the reason was, it is likely to be the same reason that motivated the US to reject the Taliban's surrender offer, later in 2001.

Meanwhile, al-Qa'ida is still not very effective in Afghanistan.

I gather that the Taliban consider al-Qa'ida as a troublesome and unfriendly rival. Next time the US identifies a leader of al-Qa'ida in Afghanistan, it might be wise to try helping the Taliban deal with him, rather than attacking him directly.