By helping the people in that area, we have been gaining their trust. Also helping train their policing forces. When I was back in basic training, we had 15-20 Afghan soldiers come to our base for some training. They hate the Taliban just as much as we do, but were always too afraid to do anything about it. They had no training, or knowledge of what to do. I had a chance to talk to a few of them, and they were really great people, and they said a few times how much they appreciated our help, plus the Americans help, in their home. That they hurt for our losses, and will do everything they can to help us out in this war. Is that not a sign of victory there? That we are able to help these people, to the point that they trust us enough to hunt these fuckers along side of us? While it's true that the Taliban numbers are a lot larger then most people think, we've also taken a huge chunk out of them, as well as taken out some of their TOP guys. Taking out Bin Ladin alone will not be enough, but it will deliver a crushing blow for the time being. But why fight? To show that we don't give up. That we will not stand for being attacked on our own soil, and not fight to the death for our country. Taliban will never be gone, in the same way that the Crips and Bloods will never be gone, or the KKK. their control over the people who fear them may still be there, but their numbers will fall, and that control will go way down, and really is that not what it's about? May not be able to fully rid the world of them, but to take all power and control away is second best option.