In December 2001, an ambitious goal was set at the German Petersberg: Afghanistan was to be pacified, rebuilt, and democratized. However, between the fall of the Taliban at the end of 2001 and the announced shift in strategy by American President Obama in December 2009, there were about eight unsuccessful years of war and reconstruction in the Hindu Kush. Martina Meienberg analyzes why political reconstruction in Afghanistan has so far failed in many areas. The examination of the case study shows how the interventions have affected the behavior of various actors, including the Karzai government, the Taliban, and members of the Bundeswehr.