THEY’RE BACK. The Taliban. Remember them -- the repressive and murderous regime of religous fanatics that ruled Afghanistan and shielded Osama bin Laden?

You might remember, too, that George W promised only a couple of years ago that he was going to bomb the Taliban to smithereens, "smoke out" ol' Osama, and "liberate" the people of Afghanistan -- using U.S. military might to usher in a bright new day of democracy for this forlorn land.

But only 18 months after being ousted by Bush's bombs and our troops -- heeeeeerrre comes the Taliban right back in, having revived its command structure and begun to reassert its brutish power over the people. Prior to going to war with the Taliban, the Bushites had loudly proclaimed that they were not just going in with bombs, but afterwards would deliver on a plan for reconstruction of the nation's infrastructure. Notice that this is the same thing the Bushites have now promised to the Iraqi people.

One of the top leaders of the new government that the Bushites set up after the Afghan war now says: "What was promised to the Afghans with the collapse of the Taliban was a new life of hope and change. But what was delivered? Nothing."

Indeed, Bush bolted for Bahgdad. Meanwhile, instead of a flowering democracy in Afghanistan, thieving warlords and a rise of Taliban vigilantism is the rule of the day. The Bushites had promised millions of dolllars to create a local police authority that could stabilize the country, but these police went unpaid for months and have drifted away.

Interestingly, the Taliban launched its comeback from safe havens in neighboring Pakistan. You might recall that Pakistan, itself ruled by a brutal military dictator, is warmly welcomed by the Bushites as an "ally" in their perpetual global crusade against "evildoers." What a sticky web they weave.

Bombs alone can't bring democracy—whether in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, or whatever other country is next on Bush's list.