Chuck you missed the point. This is a war against terrorism, not any particular State or government or support for Western foreign policy. The taliban government support terrorists, thus that government is now a target in the overall campaign.
The US would never have succeeded in forming any coalition if its intention was solely aimed at soveriegn M.E. countrys. The relative success of forming such an alliance is because terrorism is the target, not any particular State or religious group.
The reason why the US was attacked was for fanatical religious purposes, pure and simple. The instrument of satan, as these fanatic freaks call the U.S., was dealt a severe blow.
The world has been at war with terrorism for years, only this time its finaly been declared.