Afghanistan’s swift unravelling has created new — and in some quarters unrealistic — enthusiasm for talks with the Taliban. We agree that there should be a serious effort to win over lower-level militants and tribal leaders — people who are not true believers but have allied with extremists because they had no choice.

President-elect Barack Obama has said that he is open to such an approach. General David McKiernan, the top US commander in Afghanistan, says he is working on a plan to engage militants in local councils provided they reject the Taliban and accept the basic civil rights and political freedoms in the Afghan Constitution. Afghanistan’s only chance is a long-term US commitment that also includes far more economic assistance and support. Washington also must come up with a better mixture of incentives and pressures to persuade Pakistan to shut down havens of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Karzai must cut all ties with corrupt officials andstrengthen his national police.

Instead of leaving it to Obama, Bush should quickly authorise the extra 20,000 US troops that his commanders have requested. The US also must ensure that Afghanistan has the food aid it needs to compensate for the failed harvest. Widespread hunger would drive even more civilians to the Taliban.