Old Blue:

“Don’t forget; the Taliban never controlled the whole country. The HiG and the Taliban occasionally hold hands now, but Gulbudin gave them fits when they were the defacto government. The HiG weren’t the only group out there who controlled some territory and needed money.”

Old Blue, I’ve reviewed your Blog and understand your perspective.

I’m familiar with the tribal nature of Afghanistan… long story short, I once had a neighbor, Haji, that was a Tajiki emigrant from Afghanistan, a supporter of the “Lion of Panjshir”. He was VERY happy to be living in America, and to have earned a college degree.

One day, sometime in the year prior to 9/11, we were conversing about Al-Qaeda and the US Cole, he showed me several bullet wounds he had received while fighting the Taliban. Explained to me how they had overrun most of Afghanistan, and then told me that he had heard comments (I suppose at the local mosque?) that Al Qaeda was planning “some big operation against America”.

In my hubris, I scoffed at his statement, thinking “never in America”. I moved into another state shortly after that conversation.

Of course on 9/11/2001, I finally understood what Haji had meant by that comment. I will never again underestimate the desire of the Islamo-fascists to subjugate and/or inflict destruction on the Kafir.