But are they shunned for what they did, or for failing to win against the US? I kinda think that if they had some military success they would get the hero treatment.

Nobody loves a loser.

"'We are not defeated. We were and are waiting to face the American ground troops, said Jan Mohammed"

See, I think the problem is that our newsmen are using outdated and inaccurate dictionaries to translate from Paki and Afghani to English.
For example, what Jan M. REALLY said was something like "We are not sane; We were and are waiting to show our tails to the American ground troops.
This is similar to previous mis-translations of things like 'fight to the death' and 'impregnable fortress' when what was really meant was "fight until the enemy first appears," and "shaky old mud-walled enclosure."

"Nobody loves a loser."

So where is Allah? Did he not show up? Was he taking a nap?

Good point. A subtlety lost on most people. A weak hand by the US over the last 8 years has emboldened elements in the Arab world, and allowed propagandists to work their magic. A strong hand now wins their respect. This is of course the opposite of the liberal point of view, which, by definition, makes it a truism.

But are they shunned for what they did, or for failing to win against the US? I kinda think that if they had some military success they would get the hero treatment.

To these people Allah is all powerful. If they were defeated by the U.S. Allah wanted the U.S. to defeat them. If that were not true, then the only other option is that the United States is more powerful than Allah.

The problem with losing a religious war, is the faithful do not lose faith in Allah, just the people who claim to know the will of Allah and claim to be following it with the war.

People always turn on the makers of a religious war that loses. Their God had to oppose the war, or their God would not have let them lose.

It would seem that the Allah's support for the Taliban has been grossly exaggerated (by the Taliban, of course.)

Allah was busy searching for many more virgins...

Allah allowed for the proper result to using His name in vain.

We are not defeated.

"We are not defeated. We were and are waiting to face the American ground troops," said Jan Mohammed, 24, a chubby Taliban machine gunner who was visiting his alma matter, the Key to Knowledge madrassa, for what he said was a home leave approved by his commanders after five months of combat duty.

Irony is lost on fanatics.