Britain's Times Newspaper reported the existence of a secret document in which the U.S military claimed that it is highly possible that the Taliban will re-assume control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO forces come the 2014 deadline.

The existence of the report was confirmed, but it was later found that it is a series of opinions that would often come from detainees and prisoners that were or had been affiliated with the Taliban.

If the opinions were to prove true, then this would result in a major policy failure and would further harden those of the attitude who find intervention repugnant.

The human and monetary costs of this campaign would all have been in vain, which would prove extremely unpopular in both political groups and popular opinion.

If this were to be the case, the saying that Afghanistan was the graveyard of empires could be drawn upon once again in remembrance of the Soviet Union and the precarious situation the U.S now finds itself in.

Military and diplomatic figures have naturally dismissed and rejected the claims as not an accurate analysis, but rather optimistic hope of a group whose days are spent.

There are currently problems with the Afghan security forces and police, as was apparent in President Karzai's extension of the period in which private security firms can operate in the country.

However, it is estimated that these forces will extend beyond 350,000 by 2014, while military and security commitments of certain allies, such as Australia, will leave foreign troops and even elite troops to assist the host nation's security forces.

It seems certain that come the coalition pullout, the Taliban will certainly attempt to disrupt Western efforts, as Iraqi militants are now attempting to do. The Afghan forces will be tested when the West pull out and will, more importantly, be an indication of the success of intervention.