America's two "great victories" since 11 September 2001 areunravelling. In Afghanistan, the regime of Hamid Karzai has virtually no authority and no money, and wouldcollapse without American guns. Al-Qaeda has not been defeated, and the Taliban are re-emerging. Regardless ofshowcase improvements, the situation of women and children remains desperate. The token woman in Karzai'scabinet, the courageous physician Sima Samar, has been forced out of government and is now in constant fear ofher life, with an armed guard outside her office door and another at her gate. Murder, rape and child abuseare committed with impunity by the private armies of America's "friends", the warlords whomWashington has bribed with millions of dollars, cash in hand, to give the pretence of stability.