Any mass movement comprises a variety of people with a variety of motivations. Furthermore, each individual within the movement comprises a variety of motivations.

Although a movement as a whole might be characterized correctly as immoral and deceitful, the movement nevertheless probably still contains within its members much motivation that is moral and sincere.

Any outsider who decides to dismiss reflexively an entire mass movement as absolutely criminal and evil never will understand it well.

The primary evidence for determining another person’s motivations is that person’s own explanation of his own motivations. The explanation might be deceptive, but it might be partially true or at least might provide a framework for outlining the real motivations.

As I understand the Talibans’ motivation, they strive to establish a society guided strictly by Islamic principles. I presume they really do act on that motivation even though they grow and export opium, which we here consider to be a crime. I presume the the Taliban don’t perceive any moral contradiction at all, because Islamic scriptures do not explicitly prohibit growing and exporting opium.