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Other things to consider:
The Taliban is not Afghanistan. This religious movement sprung from Pakistani religious schools. It swept to power over the bodies of many religious and political rivals, and is unpopular with many Afghanis--though of course there’s no polls to say exactly how unpopular. Still, they have internal rivals, at least some of whom favor a democratic state.
The Taliban is also unpopular with its geographical neighbors. The US might find allies in the newly elected leadership of Iran, among Pakistani moderates, the Gulf War participants, and definitely in NATO, India and the ex-Soviet states.
The father of the acting president of the US has said that his gravest error was not pressing the attack and removing Saddam when he had the chance. I imagine that the new/old administration of Bush cronies will be avid to fight their last war over again. When they move against Afganistan, I expect their goal will be not only to capture bin Ladin and his organization, but to topple the Taliban.
Which, frankly, isn’t a bad idea, considering what a force for ignorance and barbarity the Taliban has been. But I couldn’t begin to weigh the potential bloodshed against the potential benefits. |
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