Yes, we tried.. with what we had. The problem of elected officials is realm except we are taling about the previous administration. Why did Pres. Bush et al decide to invade Iraq instead "escalting" our war in Afghanistan. In those days we had the Taliban and UBL on the run and eventually would have gotten the sob. Instead we gave them TIME to regroup and expand. We are seeing the consequences.
Iraq could have been taken anytime with fewer losses. We were just as wrong initially in Iraq as we were by stopping our pursuit of UBL. So, RJJ, do not listen to Rush or Sarah and get the real facts.
I am not politically inclined and I am a war veteran.

In a terrain like Tora Bora 800 troops, even the best, would have been useless unless you put a division plus 50 drones looking at anything that moved. But worst of all, and I firmly believe "interrupting" the Afghan war by invading Iraq, was about the worst thing possible. The fact that no additional troops were sent is probably based on the decision to go to Iraq. Thus we gave all the time to UBL to regroup and expand and we have seen the consequences. Pres.Bush et al made a horrendous decision, we lost over 4000 killed and God knows how many permanently maimed for life. For what?
By the way, I am a Korean war veteran so my critique is not political.
P.S. We had "people" on the ground before going to Afghan, we should also have had on the east side.