New York Times: Afghan City, Free of Taliban, Returns to Rule of the Thieves. And: Gul Agha Gets His Province Back. Karzai might be the recognized head of the government in Kabul, but the situation on the ground is a different matter. All around Afghanistan, local warlords are seizing power, and engaging in the same practices of corruption and abuse of power that made Afghanistan such a fertile ground for the Taliban 5 years ago. Some might decry nation-building missions as doomed to failure. Perhaps. But if something isn't done to change the current situation, it is Afghanistan that will be doomed (again).