Analysis of recent developments in Afghanistand and historical context

To be fair, the Taliban did outlaw the production of Poppy while they were in Power. They are the only political power that has ever been successful at cutting the production of Heroin in Afghanistan and cut down the lawlessness whiched thrived in the counrty since before the time of Soviet occupation.

The Taliban are mainly Pashtun, Sunni Afghans, mixed with experienced Arab Wahabi fighters from all over the Middle East but particularly from the Iraq war zone. Their movement is also aided by a young and third generation of mujehideen form different parts of Asia who are attracted to the aspect of Jihad and martyrdom. These include persons from Aftica and even Western countries.

Where do they get the money? The Bush war on terror was a hoax, no true terrorist organizations maintained their cash in banks of any sort anywhere. This money comes almost exclusively form donations and drug profits, the sale of arms and military training in other warzones...one hand washes the other.

The production of narcotics is an economic problem in a severely underdeveloped country which works to the benefit of militant groups such as Al Qeda, the Taliban and local warlords. Therefore while worldwide governments are 'cash strapped', narcoterrorist groups are CASH FLUSHED.

Therefore, the Taliban see selling Heroin as a "necessary evil", which all tribes, groups and political parties have profited from, POSSIBLY INCLUDING THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT.

The Taliban are as much a religious movement, as a they are a political movement, and as the above video shows, it is a way of life for thousands of young generations of children...learning ENGLISH.

The problem is that the Taliban want to run the entire country in a repressive and exclusive way, they have one vision of society which is intolerant and exclusive...in the US we would describe it as a form of RACISM. Racisms in all its forms nad fashion is still racism and must be recognized as such.

If America withdrew from the region today and conceded to the Taliban there would be a form of systematic genocide and civil war - THE HAS HISTORICAL PRESEDENCE IN AFGHANISTAN.

Only by creating a system of government which includes all factions in Afghanistan and discourages the sheltering of foreign fighters will these disputes be resolved.

While you can kill a man, his ideas will live forever, and be spread to future generations. The dichotomy here, however, is that the Taliban who were ILLEGALLY REMOVED FROM POWER, and who initially obtained that power through acts of genocide, see the current government as a product of US IMPERIALISM. Which by definition - IT IS.

So there is an impasse': both sides have positioned themselves on a one track ideology which excludes the existance of the other in the future of the country. This while civilians try to live from day to day.

The Afghanistanians must be given their country to run, the foreign Arabs need to go back home and the Taliban must modify their position on dealing with others who do not share their extremist religious views of what the world should be.

How do you DEFANG AND IDEOLOGY?? Eliminate its cash flow, isolate it militarily, and undermine their moral arguments in the eyes of the public and the world. Soldiers, and guns will not sove this conflict alone.

Afghanistan is a muslim country, but no human being likes to be told how and when to pray, what to wear, who can and can't go to school...unfortunatley for the Taliban, their brand of Islam has become synonymous with INTOLERANCE...quite similar to the HAWKISH VIEWS OF THE BUSH II ADMINISTRATION (exclusivism, absolutism and defiant of internatioal laws, conventions and world agreements).

Americans see politics as separate from religion. In Afghanistan, traditionally politics and religion are sononymous. To the Taliban there is no distinction, however. Their practice would be considered an extremely conservative brand largely influenced by Wahaby Arabs, and Shi'ite muslims.

The US Government will not defeat the Taliban by simply seeking them out one by one and killing them.

There is no such thing as a just war. By definition wars violate the fundamental principles of humanity: preservation of human life...not just preservation of self. Therefore, both sides must cease killing, and come to a dialogue that renders justice for the majority, which at this point will require compromise, tolerance, equity and forgiveness on all sides. Wars do not create peace, and often the "peace" they create, only contains t the seeds of future GREATER conflagerations of death and destruction.

In order for me to understand Afghanistan (and the region in general) I have to look at it as a land of peoples and not borders. When you only see the borders you miss the mix of cultures which meet in this exact spot, which is the history of this region since before Alexander the Great.

American policy must begin to show: greater regard for human life, more willingness to legitimate grievances of the disaffected people, more willingness to invest into the security of the populace. Sending soldiers may help the military, but in itself it does not help to create peace. I never heard 'peace grows out of the end of a gun barrel'.