country with american troops on the ground to give an impression that this was an occupation to those who didn't like the american presence in the fact that american troops were still there in the decades that followed allowed the taliban to make the claim that this was yet another invasion and occupation of foreigners. it didn't work for the british in 1839, it didn't work for the russians, it didn't work for the americans are now it looks like the chinese have found a new way to exert their hegemony economically over afghanistan and i think historians will remember this is the moment that american power faded in both afghanistan and pakistan and, very sadly, the power of china has eclipsed them.— very sadly, the power of china has eclipsed them. those in the taliban who are now _ eclipsed them. those in the taliban who are now in _ eclipsed them. those in the taliban who are now in government - eclipsed them. those in the taliban l who are now in government incapable will also, william, who are now in government incapable willalso, william, be who are now in government incapable will also, william, be aware that afghanistan is not a country that lent itself to centralise control. correct. afghan history has very few periods when central control has been successfully exerted over the