GARDEZ, Afghanistan ? To some veteran Afghan commanders, the recent U.S. offensive against al-Qaida fighters in eastern Afghanistan failed because most of them got away.

Moreover, they say, this month’s Operation Anaconda, the biggest U.S.-led offensive of the Afghan war, should serve as a warning of what lies ahead if the United States wants to crush al-Qaida and Taliban forces still in Afghanistan.

According to the Afghans, themselves veterans of the brutal 1980s war against the Soviets, the Americans must be prepared for a protracted series of battles, in which an elusive opponent seemingly suffers a terrible pounding, only to disappear into the formidable terrain perhaps to return and fight another day.

“There will only be a guerrilla war with al-Qaida,” said Commander Abdullah, a leading Afghan military figure here in Paktia province. “They know how to fight from the jihad (against the Soviets) in small groups in the mountains.”

The U.S. military has declared Operation Anaconda, which began winding down last week, a success. The U.S.-led coalition seized control of the Shah-e-Kot valley after nearly two weeks of punishing airstrikes and ground combat losing eight American and three Afghan troops.

“It took only 20 terrorists to kill 3,000 of the world’s citizens in the World Trade Towers. We’ve killed hundreds, and that means we’ve saved hundreds of thousands of lives. This is a great success,” said Maj. Bryan Hilferty, spokesman of the 10th Mountain Division.

However, Afghan commanders here question that assessment as well as the estimate of hundreds of al-Qaida and Taliban casualties.

“Most people escaped. You can’t call that a success,” said Commander Abdul Wali Zardran.

“In my opinion, the campaign failed,” Abdullah said. “There were some forces there but during the very heavy bombardment and air strikes they left.”

By that measure, the Afghans find little evidence of success.

The Afghans believe that al-Qaida and Taliban forces began leaving the area in small groups once the U.S. bombing intensified, using exfiltration techniques refined against the Soviets.

“I remember once the Russians were bombing and bombing,” former guerrilla Mullah Mohammed Khaqzar said. “We left the area in groups of five and 10. We stayed away hidden in the mountains until we knew it was over and then we returned.”

His advice for winning the war is “to know where they are hiding and then send in small commando units to take them out.”

“Bombs from B-52s won’t defeat al-Qaida or the Taliban,” he said.