Well ultimately the goal was political power. That's what the people perched on the highest echelons were after. In a way they used the greedy oil corporations and others to achieve their political hegemony (Even though it's a house-of-cards).
The promise of not being ripped-off by Middle-Easterners and having a stable supply of inexpensive oil was a good ruse to get the relatively ignorant and less-intelligent in the US to support them. Anyone with more than a few neurons knew there was only likely to be an outcome where the people would be screwed again.
An endless stream of body bags filled with Yanks, vanishing freedoms, more political graft than ever, higher taxes, increased living costs and a worthless dollar are the reality for us.
The Taliban are the CIA's enemies because they either want a stop to opium poppy cultivation or the they don't like the CIA having the monopoly. (Those at the top of the Tali probably drink tea and eat cucumber sandwiches with Western leaders when no one's around to watch).
Heck! The Russians gave up for a good reason. It's not a case of bombing the major cities and installing a puppet government. The US may well win battle after battle but it will not win the war.
Oooh! Payback is gonna be a bitch! Oi vay!
