The last thing I ever expected to see in 2007 were headlines explaining how we were determined to fight the Taliban and committed to getting al-Qaida. This is now just unspeakably ridiculous. The historical equivalent would be a headline in 1956 explaining how we were determined to deal with the Nazi menace in Germany. Sheesh.
Bush, Karzai say they are aligned against Taliban
Bush Committed Against al-Qaida
…I said to the Taliban in Afghanistan: Get rid of al Qaeda; see, you’re harboring al Qaeda. Remember this is a place where they trained — al Qaeda trained thousands of people in Afghanistan. And the Taliban, I guess, just didn’t believe me. And as a result of the United States military, Taliban no longer is in existence. And the people of Afghanistan are now free. (Applause.) In other words when you say something as President you better make it clear so everybody understands what you’re saying, and you better mean what you say. And I meant what I said. (Applause.)
Whitehouse press release,September 27, 2004