It is the middle of the night. As a plane hovers overhead, a US special forces quad bike roars out of the darkness. Security is paranoid and no one will show their faces. American troops have let us film a humanitarian aid drop - usually handled in total secrecy. But the food and blankets don't go to aid groups like the Red Cross. The US military gives it all to the local strongmen. "We turn this over to Mr Khalili and he distributes it", comments one soldier. Karim Khalili is the local strongman and a key member of the Northern Alliance. Foreign powers are now competing for his allegiance. His soldiers have new American uniforms and new Iranian weapons and the wealth of blankets at his compound clearly shows some of the aid stays with him. Sami Ali is 22 and commands 600 men. The Taliban drove his family from power but thanks to US airstrikes, they've resumed their position as the local strongmen. He takes us for a spin in his Toyota four wheel drive, just flown in from Dubai. Despite the poverty ravaging Afghanistan, it seems there is always plenty of money for guns and Land Cruisers. However, some of the men in charge of rebuilding seem little different from those they have relaced. "There is no chance for any law under any constitution except Islam." says Abul Rasal Sayyaf, a Northern Alliance powerbroker and a self confessed fundamentalist. The West has fought hard to make itself safe from Afghan terror. It seems the warlords will now be left to battle and rule in peace.

Produced by ABC Australia