The long view is that by carefully building a new army and police force, and instilling law and order so that the economy can grow, peace will come to Afghanistan. This is probably true, as this is the approach that has always worked in the past. But getting from here to there in Afghanistan can be difficult because of the warlords and drug gangs do not want anyone trying to install government control in their territory. So far, the government and warlords have just been skirmishing. But the 9,000 US troops are going after drug facilities and any warlords (particularly the smaller ones out in the mountains) who appear to be supporting the Taliban or al Qaeda. Eventually, there's going to be a major fight.