Understanding the Banality of the Taliban
By Larry Johnson on October 23, 2009 at 10:49 PM in Current Affairs
The New York Times is pilloried frequently as a tool or cheerleader for the Obama administration. Some of the criticism is richly deserved. But if you want a glint of what the NY Times used to be you should sit down and read David Rhodes account of his captivity in Afghanistan. Rhodes provides a unique window into the capabilities and thoughts of one faction of what we call the “Taliban.” The fact is that this particular group that took Rhodes hostage was one of the groups the United States funded during the war against the Soviets more than 20 years ago.
Here’s your first task, read Held By the Taliban.
Part I–7 Months, 10 Days in Captivity
Part II–Inside the Islamic Emirate
Part III–‘You Have Atomic Bombs, but We Have Suicide Bombers.’
Part IV–A Drone Strike and Dwindling Hope
We are not fighting an educated, sophisticated, well organized Army. While fighters like the Haqqani clan are tenacious and willing to fight in the face of seemingly impossible odds, they are ultimately delusional and can be defeated. The eschatological mentality of these folks is found among some Christians and Jews in the United States–I am talking about the belief that Jesus (or the Messiah) is going to return and set things right. My ex-brother-in-law, for example, is one of these people. He told me that he didn’t need to buy a house because he thought it a waste of money. Why spend money on a house with a thirty year mortgage if Jesus is going to come back in his clouds of glory next year?
My idiot brother-in-law told me this 15 years ago. He still does not own a house and Jesus is still not back.
One of the issues we must understand and come to grips with is the role of belief, including superstition, that motivates and guides the various groups that we have labled “Taliban.” Their desire to do terrible things to us and impose their will does not translate into actual capability. Keep this in mind as you read Rhodes terrific series.
The other critical point is that the Taliban are empowered by Pakistan. Without the money and support and weapons of Pakistan the Taliban would not be able to sustain their power. This is a simple yet profound truth.
One final comment–Dick Cheney is a blowhard. The Bush Administration ignored Afghanistan starting in December of 2001 when Gary Berntsen had Bin Laden surrounded and could not get the military support he needed to take out the bastard. It was in late November 2001 that the Bush Administration shifted military resources from Afghanistan and started planning the invasion of Iraq. So the mess in Afghanistan today is partly the fault of the failure of the Bush Administration. So fuck Dick Cheney and his bullshit.
But this does not excuse Barack Obama. He promised to do what the Bush team did not. Instead, Barack is doing what George Bush and Dick Cheney did for 8 years. He is ignoring his commander in the field and reneging on the promises he made during the heat of the campaign. If Barack continues down this path, then fuck him too. He’s just a better looking version of Dick Cheney.
UPDATE: To make things clear, the brother-in-law I refer to in the article is not, REAPEAT NOT, Dr. Sears. He’s sane. The guy I’m referring to was married to one of my sisters. Tom is a good guy and a dear friend.
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