That granted it the legitimacy Bush scrambled around unsuccessfully seeking for the Iraq war. There are a lot of hell holes around the world where religious and/or military juntas brutally oppress their helpless citizens and we do not get involved because 1) it is not our problem, 2) we do not have the resources and 3) unfortunately, in many cases we already subsidize the OPPRESSORS.

Afghanistan was different because the Taliban knowingly gave terrorists a safe haven where they plotted and trained to blow up the WTC. Thus we invaded as much to prevent it happening again as to retaliate. Liberation, spreading democracy, winning the hearts and minds; all great if they happen, but never our motive.

I agree the behavior was disgraceful, and undermines any kind of "enlightened" image we seek to project, along with any conciliatory impulse from the Taliban and probably most Afghanis, but in terms of our stated mission: We were there to put down or at least muzzle a rabid dog, which we largely have.