I am not sure how I feel about this:
Two men sat in the governor’s garden recently, in this unruly province bordering Pakistan, smiling and nodding as they chatted with him. The men are former members of the Taliban who have taken advantage of offers of amnesty in exchange for returning from exile in Pakistan.
“The Taliban are also part of the Afghan population,” said the urbane governor of Khost Province, Merajuddin Pathan, explaining why he had welcomed these former Taliban officials. “We want to bring them back for the future of our country and stability. It is very simple. If they accept our laws and our national interest, they can come home.”
What did the Taliban stand for? A review:
The Taliban, under the direction of Mullah Muhammad Omar, brought about this order through the institution of a very strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law. Public executions and punishments (such as floggings) became regular events at Afghan soccer stadiums. Frivolous activities, like kite-flying, were outlawed. In order to root out “non-Islamic” influence, television, music, and the Internet were banned. Men were required to wear beards, and subjected to beatings if they didn’t.
Most shocking to the West was the Taliban’s treatment of women. When the Taliban took Kabul, they immediately forbade girls to go to school. Moreover, women were barred from working outside the home, precipitating a crisis in healthcare and education. Women were also prohibited from leaving their home without a male relative
Kimmitt
Amnesty was politically necessary for Confederate officers; I can see why it might work the same way for former Taliban officials. In addition, some folks blow whichever way the wind is blowing. Just because someone signed up to support the Taliban doesn’t mean that he backed its full agenda.
My two cents; I’m hardly an expert on Afghan affairs.
Sandi
John what is being accepted is those people who joined the Taliban, NOT the principles of the Taliban. Things have changed in Afghanistan, and if they continue to exercise their old ways they will likely run afoul of the new government.
To be honest I am not comfortble trusting them either, but is there another option other than to continue fighting them?
bill
I am glad that there are still parts of the world that live according to the natural order of things. Afghanistan is a beautiful country filled with beautiful non-fatass people (alot more than America can boast of itself). I am sure that women do not lead miserable lives there and I am also sure that, despite huge cultural differences between America and the east, Afghainis still care for women just as much as any other human population in the world. I am also pleased to know that there are parts of the world that see value in life which is not connected to arrogant, godless, indivualist, materialist capital society.
The only problem with the Taliban, as far as I am concerned, is thier hatred for Americans. I think that it should be understood that thier hatred is not w/o reason–it stems from Americans pushing thier hollow materialist culture on the East for the past 60 years.