Would be really nice if you were right. But the facts are that as soon as the superpowers withdrew, the democratic structures were swept away by the Taliban without an ounce of resistance. The Afghan people, who fought so hard against the Russians (and indeed the British), seem to lose their nerve and grit when it comes to fanatical barbarians. So one must either deal with the Taliban, thus giving respectability to said barbarians, or bite the bullet and take over Afghanistan seriously, imposing a foreign government on them. The same applies to America: at some point a civilised, First World nation is going to have to step in and sort them out!

A skip through history will reveal anything you want it to. An honest and pragmatic study, however, reveals that there are two kinds of humans. Psychopaths (often termed 'leaders' or even 'great leaders') and the other 90% - dim-witted, cowardly, criminal-minded layabouts. Everything that has ever been achieved has been a process of the 10% applying their boots to the arses of the 90%.

Respect for humanity? If and when they deserve it!