The Rise Of The Taliban

The Taliban, you know, that group US forces "eliminated" seems to be gaining strength.

Across the jihadi world, there is a strong conviction that by the end of this year Taliban leader Mullah Omar will be back in power in Afghanistan, from where he was driven by US-led forces in 2001.

Realistically, eight months is likely to be too ambitious a time frame for a Taliban victory, if victory is achievable at all.

Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the Taliban movement is poised to enhance its nuisance level significantly in the United States' strategic back yards in the region - notably Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Acutely aware of this, the US is leaning heavily on Pakistan, its key ally in the "war on terror" in the region, to go on the offensive against the strong Taliban foothold in the North and South Waziristan tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan.

What the US is asking for, in effect, is a Tora Bora-style aerial bombing of the area, similar to that undertaken in the mountains of that name in Afghanistan during the rout of the Taliban five years ago. (Incidentally, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden escaped from Tora Bora long before the bombs began to fall.)

The Taliban are integrated into the local population and there would be high civilian casualties. This is considered acceptable as civilians would be deemed Taliban sympathizers. [emphasis mine]

Now its the italicised words I want to comment on. I'm assuming there are hundreds if not thousands of children in that area who aren't capabable of sympathizing with anyone except perhaps their parents. But no problem. Bomb their asses all to hell. That'll show 'em.

Is that how a compassionate conservative and God fearing person (yeah, Bush, I'm looking at you) would act? I don't think so.

Beyond that, let's consider the adults. They have a powerful, dangerous group in their midsts. They might feel powerless to drive them out. They might feel any attempt to have someone else remove them might endanger them and their families. They might feel the Taliban is right. Do any of these positions by the locals justify their extinction? Not to my way of thinking.

Why does Bushco's singular approach to foreign affairs always seem to be the death penalty?

To my friends in Canada and Mexico, be careful now. If you piss this idiot off, he can nuke you in seconds.