"...it was not to long ago that US government and oil businesses were in serious discussion with the Taliban to have the pipeline go through Afghanistan."
What a absolutely stupid thing to say. They weren't "in serious discussion" to kill American soldiers.
I guess the Taliban missed their chance to cash in on the big bucks then. Instead they chose to harbor a genocidal maniac, who if he could take out 100,000 American lives would do so. The Taliban then refused to give him up after it became clear that his group was involved in the attacks of 9/11. I guess they chose sides, maybe because they get paid by OBL and his supporters to shield him and because they are making too much dough from the opium trade.
That was then, this is now. The Taliban blew it. They should have gone for the money instead of what was behind Door No. 2.