No question. That at least partly explains the Taliban. What about the drug dudes and the Smugglers, the Afghans who simply do not want an effective powerful central government -- or simply a Pushtun dominated central government. Need to be careful not to oversimplify the issue, that can lead to flawed decisions...True, they could -- but they won't because AQ are Muslim, rich and provide international intelligence information not otherwise available in addition to funds.These guys are not AQ, and are fairly open about their disdain for the Arabs. We should be leveraging this. The Taliban could expel, capture, or kill AQ in a matter of days if they wanted to, certainly they could shut them down in Pashto lands quickly and indefinitely.
On another note, I draw your attention to this op-ed piece by a gentleman who, as I do, offers a counterpoint to your oft repeated -- yet doomed -- plea for American minimalism; LINK .
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