This constant denigration of each other by Afghan leaders is not new
"I am not sure that the air campaign will work, at least as it is going on now. Before the attacks started, the Taliban's people were very nervous, and their support in the population was very low. Everyone was afraid. But once the bombing started, people began to say, 'Well, it's not so bad. We have known worse. We can stand it.' This is something I have often seen in battle. The soldier runs away, terrified of something behind himÑhe doesn't know what, only that he is frightened. Then he realizes he is not in immediate danger. He stops and faces the enemy, and his courage comes back. So in these last weeks I have seen more support for the Taliban than before. We have been trying to create a revolt within the Taliban, but the US just hasn't given us the chance. They seem to have been determined to attack, even if someone came up with the best proposal in the world to avoid this. This has been a big setback for me."
—Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Abdul Haq was the West's prime candidate for a new Afghani leader until he was captured and killed by the Taliban not long after this interview was conducted.
