Quote Originally Posted by CountArach View Post
Can you at least attempt to reply to the sources I posted? Can you acknowledge any of the following:
1) The invasion has increased Opium production and this is not a good thing.
2) The Taliban has increased its influence
3) The Taliban is not fighting for any territory specifically, they are fighting against us.
1) Well, whatever else they were and are, the Taliban, when "ruling" Afghanistan, were fairly anti-drug and both criminalized and tried to stop poppy and opium production. The world's apetite for heroin has not abated, so poppies are still the most profitable crop thereabouts. Little surprise, with the economic difficulties there, that a family (or terrorist group) would plant the most profitable crop.

2) Arguable. They no longer run the country as a whole. It is clear that they have, however, rebounded from their nadir and are regaining influence and political power.

3) I would be shocked if, having enjoyed rulership, they are not seeking to regain same. However, the coalition is their opponent, and their first objective is to do us harm. I suspect that, if they are successful in inducing us to leave, they would make a play for power.


Your post seems to imply that our withdrawal would engender the dissolution or neutering of the Taliban. I disagree, I believe it would allow them the chance to regain control of Afghanistan (or most of it).

I believe that this would be to our detriment, so we must prevent it. I do not believe that withdrawing will end up working.