Watch part two

On October 7, 2001, the US launched a war to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, in response to the al-Qaeda attacks of 9/11.

Eight years later, there is no end to that war in sight.

The Taliban have been gathering strength, and have warned that they are prepared for "a long fight".

The administration of Barack Obama, the US president, has been wrestling with its strategy for the war and its military leaders are reportedly urging that 40,000 more troops be sent to the country, in addition to the 68,000 already there.

The White House insists that withdrawal is not an option. So what options does the US have?

On Wednesday, Riz speaks with Mark Kimmitt, a former US army brigadier-general, and Tamim Ansary, an Afghan-American analyst and the author of Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes.

This episode of the Riz Khan show aired from Wednesday, October 7, 2009.