Goliath or Hercules?

Mujahedin resistance to the Soviet invasion becomes kitsch myth, with echoes of David and Goliath, in a recently unveiled diorama in Herat's People's Museum [click to enlarge]. An Afghan boy on a rooftop takes aim with a slingshot, while a Soviet tank erupts in flames below. (from THE SPECTATOR, 12 March 2011)

Although Goliath makes a brief appearance in Chapter 2 of the Koran, it's an adaptation from the original story in the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament). Hence Muslims aren't the only ones attracted to the myth:

"To watch the courageous Afghan freedom fighters battle modern arsenals with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom."
--President Ronald Reagan, March 21, 1983

With what myth will the Afghans paint the U.S. intervention? Let's hope it goes something like the Second Labor of Hercules:

"For his second labor, the hero had to kill the Lernaean Hydra, a creature with nine heads that lived in a swamp. One of the beast's heads was immortal, and the others grew back when cut off. With the help of his friend Iolaus, Hercules cut off the Hydra's eight heads and burned each wound, which prevented new heads from growing back. Because he could not cut off the ninth head, he buried the creature under a great rock."

Apparently, to vanquish the hydra-headed Taliban, all we need to do is find a big enough rock!