CJ, here is where you and I differ. Whereas you think the Taliban is only interested in their region, the truth is that the Taliban is closely aligned with Al Qaeda in beliefs and goals.
The obvious evidence (though not sufficient proof, I'll admit) is why the Taliban wouldn't give up bin Laden right after 9/11. If the Taliban's ambitions are truly local, they could have done the smart thing and give up the guy who practically invited Bush to come invade Afghanistan.
Another is the very nature of Al Qaeda itself. As an ideology-based organization which doesn't respect borders and doesn't follow any conventions of warfare, it relies on support from all sources, from individuals, religious groups, and even governments. This coincides very well with the Taliban, whose fundamentalist government is founded on the same ideology.
In any case, the "hearts and minds" strategy of dealing with the Taliban is the same strategy when it comes to dealing with Al Qaeda. You can nail Al Qaeda members whenever they pop up, but as long as their ideology survives, they will continue to pop up and cause havoc. And it doesn't matter if you nail them 99 times for every one time they succeed, 'cause all they need is one.
Hence the reason why I don't believe the two should be treated any differently. There's nothing that would suggest to me that the Taliban's goals are purely regional in scope. They believe what Al Qaeda believes in, and they'll support continued attacks on our homeland and that of our allies until they can reform their base of power.
And then why stop there?
Tenchusatsu |
