Taliban are undoubtedly bad by our standards, however they are loyal. Loyalty means not switching sides.
Hehe I would say the complete opposite 🙂
Switching sides is a national pastime in Afghanistsn.
What we call the "Taliban" is actually a multitude of loose groups which have constantly shifting loyalties. When the Taliban swept to power in the 1990s it was not so much as the result of impressive military victories, the 'true' Taliban were very much what their name implies – students – mostly young, inexperienced, and driven by religious zeal (and Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence money)
The way they achieved power was mostly through doing deals and buying the loyalties of various groups and warlords. With every new deal they controlled a bit more territory, and as their power grew it became more rapid as more and more groups and warlords became tempted to switch sides and align themselves with them.
The bandits, smugglers, and drug dealers, which represent the bulk of the armed groups in Afghanistan (and have done so for decades), have always been prepared to switch sides if they feel it is in their interests to do so. Something which Western countries exploited hugely in the eighties, and are again now considering as a "solution" to this unwinnable war.
The only groups within the Afghan Mujahideen which are incorruptible, won't do deals, and can't be bought imo, are the Arab volunteers which we now call Al Qaeda. They are also by far the best fighters, and their fierce determination and impressive tenacity provided the front line troops for the original Taliban which was made up largely of frighten young students.
I don't believe however, that the Taliban even in government, were ever able to control them. Which made the Nato demand that Mullah Omar hand over Osama bin Laden as a precondition for not invading Afghanistan in 2001, totally unrealistic – as well they knew.
IMHO
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So, are we saying its Ok to shoot dogs? Or are people the preferred option? This thread has gone on so long i've lost track
Yes, I think this thorny question has been mostly ignore. As far as I'm concerned whilst I like war as much as the next person, I really draw the line at shooting animals.
