” ‘The U.S. is neutral on Afghanistan. We want to see an Afghanistan at peace under a broad-based, multiethnic government that is engaged in the great task of rebuilding the country and respects international norms of behavior,’ [Assistant Secretary of State Karl ‘Rick’] Inderfurth’s talking points of August 23, 1998 began. ‘In launching the strike of August 20 against Khost, the U.S. in no way wanted to harm the peaceful people of Afghanistan nor damage the Taliban.’ “
– Roy Gutman, How We Missed the Story, Page 147