Nuking Afganistan wouldn't have done much in the long run. Not when the people you're fighting are happy to die for their cause. Would have just been a good recruiting tool for Al Qaeda, some would ahve taken it as proof that Bin Laden and co were right about the West. I thought Bush initially handled Afganistan very well, which is why I was so dissapointed when we went to Iraq and Afganistan suffered.
You seem likable Steve but you talk in circles. Killing Muslims with guns(as we are doing) or with nukes is used equally well as a recruiting tool. The problem is Taliban allowing Al Qaida to train in Afghanistan and not handing them over after 9-11. If we had responded with overwhelming force others(Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia) would have reconsidered giving any support monetarily or physically to these groups.
Remember the guys running the countries whether the Taliban, The Sheiks or whomever aren't the ideological nutcases they are just your typical power guys, the nut jobs are the guys doing the attacks. The reason they allow this stuff to go on is it cements their hold on power, but if their very existence is in question they will change their tune and expel these guys or stop the flow of money.
